Wolverines advance in NCAA tourney with win over Northeastern

By @StefanKubus –

The Wolverines held one of the nation’s top-scoring lines at bay to move one step closer to a Frozen Four berth.

Michigan posted a 3-2 win over Northeastern Saturday afternoon to advance to the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal on Sunday. Cooper Marody led the way with a pair of goals, while Hayden Lavigne backstopped Michigan to the win.

The high-scoring trio of Adam Gaudette, Dylan Sikura and Nolan Stevens was held to a minus-three in the game, and their only marker came on a power play.

After a scoreless first period, Michigan struck first, as Marody fooled Northeastern freshman netminder Cayden Primeau with a no-look, turn-around shot from between the high slot as he circled the zone.

The Huskies tied things up late in the period, as Dylan Sikura potted a power-play goal to set up a decisive third period.

Michigan’s Dexter Dancs potted a huge go-ahead goal at 5:45 of the third period as he squeaked a backhander through Primeau cutting down the right wing toward the goal.

But at 12:01, Northeastern’s Eric Williams threw a puck on net from the boards that found its way past Michigan netminder Hayden Lavigne,  just after a close chance for Michigan at the other end.

The resilient Wolverines struck back to go ahead once again, with just over four minutes left on the clock. Marody potted his second of the game from the slot, as he redirected home a short drop pass from Tony Calderone as he rounded the net.

The Wolverines will next face Boston University on Sunday with a trip to the Frozen Four at stake. BU won its opening game Saturday afternoon, a 3-1 win over Cornell.