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Michigan hockey a near lock for NCAA Tournament after sweep of Notre Dame

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•03/10/24•

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Gavin Brindley and Michigan beat MSU, 5-2, to advance to the Frozen Four. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire)

Michigan beat Notre Dame 4-3 Saturday night at Yost Ice Arena to complete a quarterfinal sweep of the Irish in the Big Ten Tournament, all but punching its NCAA Tournament ticket. The Wolverines (20-13-3) advance to next weekend’s semifinals against either Minnesota or Michigan State, depending on the outcome of the Wisconsin vs. Ohio State quarterfinal game three today. A Wisconsin win would send Michigan to East Lansing to face top-seeded Michigan State — an OSU victory would send the Wolverines to Minnesota.

Michigan bumped its win streak over Notre Dame to 5 games on the strength of another strong first period. Like Friday night when they outshot the Irish 20-4 in the first stanza, U-M was flying and took an 18-7 shot advantage into the second period, along with a 2-1 lead.

Notre Dame scored first at 8:05, but it didn’t take the Wolverines long to respond. TJ Hughes scored the first of his two, first period goals when he defected a shot from Seamus Casey over the glove. He also knocked home a loose puck in the crease with only 9 seconds remaining in the period for his second tally and gave Michigan the momentum heading into the second period. Notre Dame challenged the goal for offsides, but it stood, and the Irish were assessed a delay of game penalty.

Also like Friday’s contest, the Fighting Irish battled back to grab a lead. They scored on the power play with about 15 minutes left in the second and again halfway through the period to go up 3-2.

Michigan responded quickly, though, and tied it at 3 on a Dylan Duke rebound goal, his 21st of the year. That’s how the period ended.

The next goal would be huge, and Gavin Brindley got it for Michigan at 3:54 of the third on a pass from Tyler Duke. The Irish would have several chances, especially after pulling the goalie late, but Jake Barczewski was up to the challenge. He made two huge stops in the last minute to prevent overtime and send the Wolverines on in the Big Ten Tourney … and likely to the NCAA Tournament.

“That’s why you play the game,” Barczewski told reporters. “That’s why you’re here. I’m in this moment right now and just so thankful for this opportunity, and to have a moment like that where we end a team’s season in the Big Ten playoffs. That’s pretty special … This group of guys is so tight and I know that no one wants to win as much as we do day in and day out.” 

The College Hockey News predictor now gives Michigan a 99.6 percent chance to make the tournament and an 86 percent shot at a 3 seed, meaning they’d avoid the No. 1 seeds in the first round.

Watch for more on the Wolverines in the postseason in the days to come.

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