Beniers, Michigan Claim Big 10 Title

Minnesota's Jaxon Nelson scored a breakaway goal 32 seconds into the game, taking the early lead and momentum against Michigan in the Big 10 hockey tournament championship game Saturday at a sold-out 3M Arena at Mariucci.
But Michigan's dynamic duo responded just 45 seconds later to tie the game and spark the Wolverines to a 4-3 win for their second Big 10 title in program history (2016).

Kraken prospect and Big 10 scoring champion Matty Beniers made a beautiful backhand pass to linemate Brendan Brisson for a crafty scoring play to tie the game 1-1 at the 18:43 mark of the first period. Beniers continues to display his offensive creativity as Kraken fans anxiously await his potential NHL debut with Seattle this spring.

Michigan freshman Luke Hughes, the No. 4 overall pick by New Jersey in the 2021 NHL Draft and brother of Canucks' Quinn Hughes and Devils' Jack Hughes, assisted on the play.
With just over two minutes remaining in the first period, Mackie Samoskevich sent a centering pass that deflected off Minnesota defenseman Mike Koster's stick and past goalie Justen Close for a deflating own goal.
From there, it was all Michigan until the waning moments.
Samoskevich set up Dylan Duke on the rush for a 3-1 lead early in the second period. Kent Johnson, the No. 5 overall pick by the Blue Jackets in a Michigan-heavy first round of the 2021 NHL Draft (Owen Power No. 1 to the Sabres, Beniers No. 2 to the Kraken), extended the lead with a top-shelf rocket on the power play a few minutes later.
The 4-1 Michigan lead held until the final minute of the game, when Minnesota's Ben Meyers scored on a 6-on-3 power play with the net empty and then Matthew Knies added a goal with five seconds left.
Goalie Erik Portillo made 25 saves for Michigan.
Beniers and Brisson, a first-round draft pick of the Vegas Golden Knights and a Team USA teammate of Beniers at the Beijing Winter Olympics, have been a force for Michigan all season. They set each other up for goals in a 2-1 win over Notre Dame last Saturday in the conference tournament semifinal. Both were named to the Big 10 all-tournament team.
Saturday's game was a reunion for five Team USA teammates. Minnesota's Brock Faber, Meyers and Knies joined Beniers and Brisson in Beijing.
Both teams will play in the NCAA men's ice hockey championship.