ST LOUIS — Earlier this week in practice, Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson told his team that in order to beat Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon, it would have to win a majority of the little battles and footraces all over the ice.
- Jake Fromm/Daily
- Jake Fromm/Daily
- Jake Fromm/Daily
But in the first period against the Mavericks, the Wolverines didn’t put their coach’s words into practice, as they head into the first intermission down, 2-0.
In the first two minutes of the contest, Michigan received its first power play opportunity of the night, but it was Nebraska that took advantage of the Wolverines’ miscue.
Off a face-off in the Maverick zone, Nebraska forward Rich Purslow took a pass from a Maverick at his own blue line. He then beat the Wolverine defensemen down the ice and slipped a backhand five-hole on Michigan goaltender Shawn Hunwick at the 1:35 mark of the first period.
Five minutes later, the Mavericks added to their lead.
With Michigan caught circling in its own end, Nebraska set up a perfect passing play to go up, 2-0.
Maverick forward Alex Hudson beat his defender out of the corner and cut straight toward the net. Hudson received a cross-ice pass and one-timed it past an out-stretched Hunwick to give Nebraska-Omaha a two-goal lead.
The Wolverines were certainly plagued by defensive lapses and an inability to convert on the power play — 0-for-2 with the man-advantage.
The shots at the end of the period 11-8 in favor of Michigan.