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Michigan hockey fans have been eagerly anticipating the start of the 2021-22 season, in which the Wolverines are expected to field maybe their most talented team ever.
Friday night was worth the wait.
No. 3 Michigan thrashed Lake Superior State, 6-1, in its season-opener at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines led 3-0 after one period of play, 5-0 after two and outshot the Lakers 47-25.
Highlights: No 3 Michigan opens season with 6-1 win over LSSU pic.twitter.com/gM7J9EnPSU
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 9, 2021
The rout of Lake State was an equal-opportunity blowout, as Michigan showed off not only its top-line talent but its depth. Six players — Brendan Brisson, Mackie Samoskevich, Kent Johnson, Garrett Van Wyhe, Dylan Duke and Owen Power — scored goals, and eight provided assists. Power dished out three, while Brisson and Bordeleau both had two helpers.
Freshmen Samoskevich and Duke, who were both picked in this summer’s NHL Draft, scored on their debuts, while Luke Hughes and Mark Estapa, also making their first appearances for Michigan, had assists as well.
Erik Portillo, newly anointed as the Wolverines’ No. 1 goalie after the departure of Strauss Mann, saved 24 of 25 Laker shots to pick up the win.
The Wolverines went 2-for-6 on the power play and held Lake Superior State to one goal in six power-play tries.
The teams will be back at Yost for the second game of the series Saturday, with puck drop at 7 p.m.