This one had to feel good for the Michigan Wolverines’ hockey team.
They were unable to play Minnesota Duluth, then the two-time defending national champions, in last year’s NCAA Tournament due to COVID-19 protocols. So when they got another chance to take on the Bulldogs seven months later, they didn’t let it slip away.
Michigan is ranked No. 3 in the country by the USCHO and played like it in a 5-1 rout of Minnesota Duluth Friday night in the first game of the Duluth Ice Breaker Tournament at Amsoil Arena. Matty Beniers scored twice, Erik Portillo stopped 28-of-29 shots and the Wolverines went 2-of-3 on the power play en route to scoring the final five goals of the game.