CINCINNATI — For the second consecutive night, Michigan tied the score at 2-2 in the third period of their NCAA regional game.
This time, however, the goal wasn’t able to tilt the momentum.
North Dakota came charging back with the go-ahead goal at the 7:57 mark of the third, and added two more in a 5-2 victory that eliminated the Wolverines.
Rhett Gardner scored the go-ahead goal, deflecting the puck off Steve Racine’s glove and into the net.
North Dakota added an insurance goal 1:14 later by Coltyn Sanderson and an empty-netter. The Hawks advance to the Frozen Four and will next play April 7.
Both Michigan goals were scored by junior captain JT Compher. His second one came on the power play with 11:21 to play in the third period.
North Dakota registered 49 shots to Michigan’s 27.
Earning the win in net was sophomore Cam Johnson, who made 25 saves. Racine made 44 stops in the loss.
Michigan ends its season with a record of 25-8-5.
GAME NOTES
• Michigan had the game’s first scoring chance seconds after the opening faceoff as Tyle Motte and Kyle Connor broke out on an odd-man rush. The shot by Connor was turned away by Johnson, who had a sturdy performance all night.
• The Hawks struck first with 1:06 to play in the period. Catching a pass to trigger a breakaway, Drake Caggiula drove in on Racine and scored on a second-chance effort, netting the loose puck off a rebound.
• Compher tied the game at 14:27 in the second, sniping the top corner through about six players. The score stayed knotted at 1-1 until the last 45 seconds of the frame when a defensive zone turnover by Compher set Luke Johnson up for the go-ahead goal.
Justin P. Hicks is a sports reporter and storyteller for MLive / The Ann Arbor News. If you have a unique story you’d like to share, you can reach me at jhicks3@mlive.com. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and MLive.
