The Wolverines dominate Boston University, 9-2, for the first marquee win of the season

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — With both teams skating at even strength, it might have been a somewhat closer game. Instead, the No. 6 Michigan hockey team took advantage of two five-minute majors to score four goals in the first 11 minutes of an eventual 9-2 blasting of No. 9Boston University.

The Wolverines got on the board at 14:20 of the first period on a goal from Gavin Brindley, who knocked home a cross-crease pass from Jacob Truscott. Then the Terriers committed a pair of five-minute majors, both for contact to the head, and Michigan didn’t waste the extended 5-on-3 opportunity.

First came Mackie Samoskevich on a one-timer from the slot. Then came TJ Hughes, cleaning up a Loose Puck that goaltender Drew Commesso couldn’t find. Finally came Seamus Casey, who fired home a delivery from Rutger McGroarty.

Those three goals in two minutes made it 4-0 by Midway through the first, and the result was never really in question after that.

Not that the Wolverines stopped scoring. In the second period, they added a fifth off the stick of Dylan Duke and — before the Celebrations had ended — a sixth on Casey’s second of the night. Time between goals: 11 seconds. BU scored on a break to get on the board, but Michigan answered with Samoskevich’s second of the night, cleaning up a rebound after a Breakaway opportunity of their own.

That made it seven on the night for the Wolverines — a score perhaps better-suited for the Big House, a few blocks away. But it didn’t look too out of place on the scoreboard at Yost, either, as the teams headed to the locker room for the second intermission.

The cappers for the Wolverines came in the third period. First, Luke Hughes — the top-five NHL Draft pick — scored off Mark Estapa’s face-off win. It was his first goal of the season, one that promises to be a memorable one for the future New Jersey Devil after he was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award last year. The final UM goal of the Onslaught was off the stick of Rutger McGroarty, who notched the first of his UM career on a slick wrister in the closing minutes.

Between the pipes for Michigan, net minder Erik Portillo was fantastic. The only goal he allowed through 59 minutes was a two-on-the-goalie breakaway, and the junior made several impressive saves to ensure the result was never remotely in doubt after they built the early lead. BU scored on the power play with 30 seconds remaining for the final score line, on that did little to reduce the magnitude of their defeat.

Three stars: Adam Fantilli, Seamus Casey, Mackie Samoskevich

What it means

This was Michigan’s first marquee win of the 2022-23 season and of the Brandon Naurato era. While early non-conference games — especially at home — don’t guarantee a successful season, it was encouraging to see a young Wolverines team maintain its composure and take advantage of its opportunities against a talented Boston University side.

That is especially true given BU’s Talent in net. Drew Commesso represented the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics and has the kind of talent to keep his team close. Not Friday. He was chased after giving up his sixth goal midway through the second period.

Michigan isn’t seven goals better than BU on most nights. But getting that result puts the Nation on notice that the No. 1 overall seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament is still plenty talented. Given the team’s youth and its coaching change, that is a very promising start.

What comes next

The same two teams return to action at Yost Ice Arena on Sunday at 5 pm The game will be televised on B1G+.

Following this weekend, the Wolverines travel to Sault Ste. Marie for a two game series before returning to Ann Arbor against Western Michigan on Friday, Oct. 28.