Lack of Offense Leaves Michigan Ahead in the End

For 45minutes, one goal and Matt O'Connor was enough for BU to to cling to the lead vs Michigan at Yost Arena. Then everything changed.

Alex Guptill scores on a penalty shot midway through the
third period to give Michigan the lead
(Photo by Matt Dresens)

Garrett Noonan was called for an iffy tripping penalty with around 15 minutes to play. Noonan went down in the aircraft carrier position (as Jack Edwards would call it) to block a centering pass. He got the puck, but then took out the Michigan player. It was certainly a tough call for the play and Michigan finally was able to cash in on the power play to tie the game. Mac Bennett set up Tyler Motte who had the entire goal to shoot at. He one-timed the pass into the net for his fourth of the year.

Michigan took the lead on a penalty shot less than two minutes later. Mike Moran was called for hooking on Alex Guptill after he broke into the zone in the clear. From where I was, it looked like all Moran did was lift Gupuill's stick, but I did not get a clear look at the replay. Nevertheless, Guptill beat O'Connor five hole on the penalty shot to give the Wolverines the lead.

BU was out played the entire night and were extremely fortunate to ever have the lead, something they got late in the first period. Noonan made a heads up pinch deep into the Michigan zone. From down in the near corner, Noonan found Robbie Baillargeon in the mid-circle. From there the freshman, who played by far his best game of the year tonight, snuck one past Zach Nagelvoort high blocker side. The goal came at 18:25.

BU managed just 12 shots the first two periods and it was not until the final minutes, when they were really pushing to tie the game did the offense actually post some scoring chances. In all, BU had 19 shots on goal. Michigan had 44.

O'Connor played out of his skull tonight. If not for him, this game could have been 12-1. Michigan even had a goal taken away in the third before the real goals were scored. A big scrum lead to the puck crossing the line, but it went over the line off a Michigan hand not a stick and thus it was not a goal.

Tomorrow night, BU will head down the road to East Lancing and take on Michigan State, who lost to Lowell 4-1 tonight.