{"id":126035,"date":"2021-02-13T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-13T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=126035"},"modified":"2021-02-13T20:39:36","modified_gmt":"2021-02-14T02:39:36","slug":"gotw-no-8-michigan-shakes-off-early-rust-of-21-day-pause-routs-no-7-wisconsin-5-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2021\/02\/13\/gotw-no-8-michigan-shakes-off-early-rust-of-21-day-pause-routs-no-7-wisconsin-5-1\/","title":{"rendered":"GOTW: No. 8 Michigan shakes off early rust of 21-day pause, routs No. 7 Wisconsin, 5-1"},"content":{"rendered":"
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No. 8 Michigan used a four-goal second period to take control of the game against No. 7 Wisconsin, earning a 5-1 victory (photo: Daryl Marshke!\/Michigan Athletics)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If the Michigan faithful were concerned their team might be a little rusty after a 21-day pause related to COVID cases, the first period didn’t do a lot to put them at ease.<\/p>\n

The Wolverines were outshot, 11-7, including 8-1 in the early going, and trailed 1-0 on a Mathieu De St. Phalle goal.<\/p>\n

But that’s why hockey is a three-period game and an explosive, four-goal second period combined with a late third period goal turned a 1-0 deficit through 20 into a 5-1 victory for No. 8 Michigan over No. 7 Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

“We needed to jump in the ring and get hit a couple of times,” said Michigan coach Mel Pearson when asked about the rust his team showed early on. “You could tell we were rusty at the start and could tell we hadn’t played in three weeks. [Goaltender] Eric Portillo did a really good job of keeping us only down 1-0 after the first period.”<\/p>\n

Portillo, a freshman from Gothenburg, Sweden, made just two starts prior to Saturday. And after a 21-day pause, the decision to go with the rookie as opposed to standout Strauss Mann seemed curious. It certainly paid dividends, though, and it all happened because of a little bit of superstition from the head coach.<\/p>\n

“We’ve been splitting them,” said Pearson, who gave Portillo starts in each of Michigan’s two series prior to the pause. “But I was riding in two days ago to work, and we have this huge video billboard. And who is the player they have on the billboard to preview the weekend series with Wisconsin? Who is it? It’s Eric Portillo.”<\/p>\n

That made Pearson’s decision for him. Asked it he is generally very superstitious, Pearson generalized saying, “Aren’t all hockey people a little superstitious?<\/p>\n

“I mean, I don’t drive the same way to the rink every day, I don’t wear the same tie every day. But I have some level [of superstition]. Most of us do.”<\/p>\n

That paid off on Saturday as, after the early goal allowed, Portillo was perfect, finishing the game with 29 saves.<\/p>\n

The Badgers entered the game one of the nation’s hottest teams. A weekend ago, Wisconsin outscored Minnesota, 12-2, over two games. They possessed the nation’s top offense and easily the top offensive player over the last month, Cole Caufield.<\/p>\n

But Michigan found success in shutting down Caufield and ended the sophomore phenom’s 12-game point scoring streak and seven-game goal scoring streaking, holding him to just two shots on goal. Caufield was also a minus-two on the afternoon.<\/p>\n

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Saves made by Erik Portillo: 29
Number of Cam York assists: 3
Snapping Cole Caufield's point streak: priceless pic.twitter.com\/PDg4HEtBIf<\/a><\/p>\n

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 14, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n