In a triple overtime game that had eight lead changes and seven ties, the Terps dropped their first game of conference play and their fourth straight loss to the Michigan Wolverines 11-10 giving them their first loss of the season.
The first quarter was a back-and-forth quarter. Michigan opened the game up with two quick goals. A goal from Braden Erksa and Jack McDonald each would then tie the game up half way through the first quarter. Michigan and the Terps would then both trade a goal to make it 3-3 with 1:16 left in the quarter. Michigan won the final face-off of the quarter but the Terps defense stood tall to keep it a tie game after the first 15 minutes.
Michigan started the second quarter the same way they started the first with a quick two goals to take back the lead. However, thanks to two goals from Eric Spanos, and a goal from Jack Dowd, the Terps had their first lead of the day with just over 5 minutes left in the first half. Michigan and the Terps would yet again trade goals as the score would be 7-6 with the Terps having the lead at halftime.
Erksa led the way for the Terps with four first-half points coming off of a goal and four assists. The Terps had an 8-7 advantage from the face-off dot after losing six of the first eight. Goalie Logan McNaney did not have a great half only having four saves against 10 shots on goal. The key for the Terps' offensive success so far was their ball movement. Every single one of the Terps' seven first-half goals came off of an assist.
The Michigan defense showed up to start the second half. The Terps offense was held to just one goal in the third quarter and turned the ball over three times. Michigan’s offense took advantage of their defense getting the stops and pulled out to a 10-8 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Bryce Ford got things going to start the fourth quarter with two goals to tie the game up at ten with 8:32 left in the game. The Terps were still playing sloppily in the fourth quarter. They had several crease violations and failed clears that kept giving the ball back to Michigan with the game tied up. Michigan would get the ball with 1:22 left in the game to take the lead off of a Maryland turnover, but with five seconds left on the shot clock, Will Schaller deflected the Wolverines' shot and it would send the game to overtime. The Terps defense turned it up in the fourth quarter pitching the shutout to save their perfect season for now.
Jonah Carrier came up clutch all day today from the face-off dot going 8/10 including winning the opening face-off of overtime. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the first overtime with both teams turning the ball over multiple times.
Carrier once again won the face-off to set up the Terps offense for the win but would come up empty yet again. Both teams would yet again have empty possessions in overtime. Michigan turned it over with just over ten seconds left giving the Terps a fast break chance. Jack McDonald ran down the field and got a shot off but Michigan goalie Jake Taylor made a great save to send the game to triple overtime.
Michigan wound up winning the third face-off of overtime. After back-to-back empty possessions for both squads, Michigan would finally find the back of the net and upset the Terps to open conference play 11-10.
The Good
If there is a good thing to take away from the loss, it is Jonah Carrier. Carrier went 9/12 from the face-off today and was a big reason the Terps were able to stay in the game and tie it up in the fourth quarter. Carrier has not been a part of the main two-man rotation from the face-off but that could change in the future now.
Needs Improvement
Logan McNaney had a save percentage below 50% for the first time this season having just nine saves on 20 shots on goal. McNaney being off today was a big reason for the loss as he was just not able to see the ball well today.
The Worst
For the second week in a row, the Terps turned the ball over a total of 20 times or more. Against teams in conference play, you will not be able to get away with that anymore and still come away with the win. The Terps offense in their three straight wins over top ten teams never turned the ball over more than 12 times. They will need to get back to that if they want to get back to their winning ways.
Three Stars
Jonah Carrier
Carrier went 8/10 from the face-off and was a massive reason the Terps stayed in the game and were able to come back at all today.
Braden Erksa
Erksa finished the day with five points off of a goal and four assists. Erksa led the team in scoring on the day and picked up four ground balls and also caused a turnover in the game.
Eric Kolar
Kolar led the team with three caused turnovers on the day as well as adding a ground ball to his name.
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