Michigan’s hockey team returned to the Frozen Four for the second consecutive season and an NCAA record 27 times.
Senior forward Maki Samoskiewicz scored 52 seconds into overtime to lift the No. 1-ranked Wolverines in the Allentown, Pa., NCAA Regional, above No. 2-ranked Penn State Sunday night into the PPL center. They advance to face Quinnipiac, the other top seed, on April 6 in Tampa. Top seed Minnesota and No. 2 seed Boston University play in the other semifinal.
Samoskevich, a 2021 first-round draft pick from the Florida Panthers, got into the offensive zone and hit a wrist shot that beat Penn State goaltender Liam Sollier to the side of the blocker.
After scoring the most goals in an NCAA tournament game since 1961 in Friday’s 11-1 win over No. 4 seed Colgate, Michigan’s top-ranked offense was stymied until 12:08 of the third period. On her fourth play of the game, freshman Adam Fantelli, the nation’s leading scorer, scooped a rebound past Swiller to tie the game. The projected No. 2 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft is averaging 29 goals and 64 points in 35 games this season.
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The Nittany Lions (22-16-1) responded to Michigan’s tying goal with a series of chances after constant pressure in the offensive zone, but Eric Portillo kept them off the list.
Neither team was tested in the tournament opener, but Sunday’s game was filled with back-and-forth between two Big Ten opponents who’ve met four times during the regular season (Michigan won three). Solaire made 41 saves for PSU, while Portillo had 31 saves.
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The Lions, who crushed No. 3 seed Michigan Tech 8-0 on Friday, made their first power play of the tournament late in the second period and took advantage with 1:02 remaining. Defenseman Paul Denables held off a netting attempt by the Wolverine and fed Christian Berger to a one-timer. A thrilling rebound found the stick of Conor McEachern, who buried it for his 12th goal of the season.
Michigan’s sophomore defenseman Ethan Edwards thought he had given the (26-11-3) Wolverines, who lost to Denver in overtime in last year’s semifinals, a 1-0 lead with less than four minutes left in the half. the first. He fired a wrist shot off the post and started gliding toward the glass, celebrating as he scored. However, the puck never crossed the goal line, and the two teams continued to play.
Edwards’ opportunity was one of three Michigan hits on Sunday.
Both guards were secured from the start and made 14 saves each in the first half. The line of Fantilli, Rutger McGroarty and Gavin Brindley, all-starters, scored the most chances for Michigan and collected seven shots in the first.
The Wolverines, the youngest team in college hockey, lost six of their seven top scorers from last season, including six of their top 40 teams. But they haven’t missed a beat under interim head coach Brandon Norato, who was promoted after Mel Pearson was fired in August following a lengthy investigation into the program.
The team was ranked inside the top 10 all season and finished in second place after dethroning #1 Minnesota.
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