Once Michigan and Quinnipiac took the ice at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, the two teams knew that the winner would face Minnesota in the national championship game two days later.
The Wolverines entered the contest as the top-scoring offense in hockey against the top-rated defense, but it was the Bobcats who struck first at 5:18 in the first period coming off of a power play that had just expired, with the shot ricocheting off goalie Rick Portillo’s back. But Michigan struck right back, tying the game, with an impressive stick-handling by Seamus Casey at 6:49, where he streaked down the ice, crossed the face of the Quinnipiac goalie, and diverted the puck right past him.
But at 11:21, Quinnipiac’s Jacob Quillan got a breakaway and scored his second goal of the game, putting one past Portillo.
Both teams couldn’t convert on the power play, and though Adam Fantilli thought he had the tying score in the second period, it hit off the top crossbar. However, he wouldn’t have to wait too long, as he had a slapshot off the right side at the 10:15 mark in the second to knot the game at 2-all.
But at 1:24 in the third period, a shot saved by Portillo bounced behind the net, and in the clear out, it bounced off his skate and went backward into the goal, 3-2 Quinnipiac. Four minutes later, due to a Bobcat slashing, Michigan would have another opportunity to tie on a power play. Yet another shot hit off the top crossbar, and Quinnipiac killed the extra-man situation.
Then the really bad news. Metsa put one past Portillo to give the Bobcats a 4-2 lead at the 13-minute mark. With just under three minutes, the Wolverines pulled Portillo, needing two goals just to send it into overtime.
It wasn’t to be. Quinnipiac scored on the empty net at the 18:15 mark to push the lead to 5-2. The Wolverines will go home to Ann Arbor while the Bobcats will remain in Tampa to face Minnesota in the national championship game.
Regardless of the outcome that no one in maize and blue wanted, it was an impressive year given the turmoil that surrounded the program. Mel Pearson was let go in the offseason and Brandon Naurato was a late hire, bearing the interim tag until after the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.
The Wolverines went 26-12-3 and won the Big Ten Tournament for the second-straight year.
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