Facing four of its future players, No. 3 Michigan (21-7-1, 12-6-0 Big Ten) played its annual exhibition match against the United States National Training Development Program U18 Team (24-10-2). Thanks to an overtime goal from senior forward Jimmy Lambert, the Wolverines prevailed, winning 4-3.

Michigan struggled to produce offensively in the game’s opening minutes. With nine minutes left in the first period, U.S. NTDP led 7-5 in shots and it looked to be anyone’s game. 

But, even without their Olympians, the Wolverines took control first. 

Off the face off, the puck fell to junior forward Jay Keranen who fired from the left wing and scored. Junior forward Johnny Beecher carried the momentum into the 16th minute when he thrashed in the one timer off a diagonal pass from sophomore defenseman Jacob Trescott. 

With less than a minute left to play, the U.S. NTDP scored its only goal of the period and Michigan went back to the locker room with only a one goal lead, 2-1. 

The second period witnessed sophomore goaltender Noah West making his third appearance of the season. Both sides maintained possession and didn’t cough off the puck. Play behind the nets was efficient as each side led breakouts into their offensive zones. 

By the 14th minute senior defenseman Jake Gingell had joined Lambert in the penalty box. U.S. NTDP had the five on three advantage and used it. 

U.S. NTDP forward Isaac Howard guided the puck and laid it off to forward Logan Cooley. Cooley trapped it and dropped the puck to forward Rutger McCroarty who found Howard left of the net. Scoring the tap in goal, Howard had leveled the match for his side. 

Michigan had failed to score in the second period and headed back to the locker room with the game tied, 2-2. 

Senior forward Jack Levy made his first appearance at Yost starting the third period. His clean sheet didn’t last. Less than a minute into play, Nazar found the netting again and gave his side the lead. 

Similar to the first period, the Wolverines couldn’t put the puck in. In a two-on-one against West, Nazar had a chance to score a hattrick but Levy blocked his shot and made up for the letting in the earlier goal.

Senior defenseman Jack Summers tied up the game at the end of the third period off a pass from freshman forward Jackie Samoskevich. 

Summer’s first goal of the season wasn’t enough as Michigan went to overtime after both sides sent players to the penalty box.

When two U.S. NTDP players collided, Lambert took the puck and hit the close range shot. After a back and forth game, the Wolverines came out on top, but still have work to do with their four Olympians out of the roster for the forseeable future.