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Connor’s four goals leads Michigan to Big Ten title game

MiHockey Staff
Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey
Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

 

By @MichaelCaples –

Thanks to four goals – including a natural hat trick in the second period – from Kyle Connor, the Wolverines have advanced to Saturday’s Big Ten title game in Minnesota.

Michigan recorded a dominating 7-2 victory over Penn State in their Big Ten semifinal match-up this evening at the Xcel Energy Center, securing their spot in tomorrow’s championship contest against the winner of tonight’s Ohio State vs. Minnesota game.

“Well, it was a game that we knew we’d have to get off to a good start and I thought we were fortunate to do that,” coach Red Berenson said after the game. “(Steve) Racine had to make some big saves in the first period and we capitalized on two of our chances and then after that, I thought we got going. But not having played yesterday, I thought we might be a little rusty and we couldn’t skate here today, it was an early game, so Penn State played and maybe had the benefit of some familiarity, but nevertheless, I thought we put our chances in and we were able to separate ourselves. Our power play was 3-for-5. That was a big part of the game, and Kyle obviously, I think had a great game, and JT (Compher) had a great game and a lot of our best players played well, so, that’s what it takes.”

Max Shuart, Alex Kile and Boo Nieves also scored for the Wolverines, while Steve Racine stopped 40 shots to record the victory between the pipes.

Connor, fresh off being named the Big Ten’s rookie and player of the year, scored three goals in a span of 8:21 in the second period, increasing the Wolverines’ lead from 2-0 to a dominating 5-0 in the middle frame.

The Big Ten title game begins at 8 p.m. ET tomorrow night, and it will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network. Michigan will be without the services of defenseman Michael Downing, after he was assessed a five-and-a-game penalty for contact to the head late in the second period.