Perron's overtime winner caps a dominant road sweep, cementing No. 1 Michigan's place atop college hockey with an explosive and poised performance.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — There is no longer any doubt about who sits atop the college hockey world. The University of Michigan ice hockey team, the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation, made a resounding statement this weekend by sweeping the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 3M Arena at Mariucci. The series victory marks Michigan’s first road sweep in Minneapolis since January 2018, pushing the Wolverines to a 20-4-0 overall record and further solidifying their grip on the Big Ten lead.
Friday Night: A Statistical Masterclass
The weekend began with a clinical display of offensive firepower and puck possession on Friday night. Michigan overwhelmed the Gophers in a 5-1 rout that felt even more lopsided than the final score suggested. The Wolverines unleashed a staggering 52 shots on goal while stifling Minnesota to just 18.
Freshman goaltender Stephen Peck, stepping in for an injured teammate to make his first collegiate start, was nearly flawless, stopping 17 of 18 shots. Offensively, Michigan showed off its terrifying depth with five different goal scorers: Tyler Duke, Michael Hage, Jayden Perron, Nick Moldenhauer, and captain T.J. Hughes. Despite a career-high 47 saves from Minnesota’s Luca Di Pasquo, the Gophers simply had no answer for a Michigan attack that leads the nation in scoring.
Saturday Night: Perron’s Overtime Heroics
If Friday was a blowout, Saturday was a "dogfight" that tested Michigan’s championship mettle. The Gophers showed more life in the rematch, battling to a 2-2 tie through regulation behind power-play goals from Brody Lamb and Brodie Ziemer. Michigan’s Garrett Schifsky and T.J. Hughes provided the regulation scoring for the Wolverines, who once again dominated the shot counter, 48-28.
The drama peaked just 2:08 into overtime. Junior forward Jayden Perron intercepted a lazy drop pass at the Minnesota blue line and raced in alone, beating Di Pasquo with a clinical release to seal the 3-2 victory. It was Perron’s ninth goal of the season, and the exclamation point on a weekend that saw Michigan take five of six possible Big Ten points.
Analysis: Why the Wolverines Are Unstoppable
This weekend highlighted the dual nature of the 2025-26 Wolverines. They possess the "energy and explosiveness" to blow teams out of the building, but they also have the veteran poise to win tight, high-pressure games on the road.
- Elite Scoring Depth: Michigan entered the series with three of the country's top eight scorers in Hughes, Hage, and Horcoff. All three contributed significant points over the weekend sweep.
- The Peck Era Begins: With Stephen Peck improving to 3-0 on the year, Michigan has found reliable goaltending even in the face of injuries, a critical component for a deep postseason run.
- Special Teams Supremacy: While Minnesota found some success on the power play Saturday, Michigan’s man-advantage remains the second-best in the nation at 31.4%, a constant threat that keeps opponents on their heels.
Weekend Series Summary
Date
Opponent
Result
Final Score
Key Performers
Jan 16, 2026
@ Minnesota
Win
5-1
Michael Hage (1G, 1A), Stephen Peck (17 Saves)
Jan 17, 2026
@ Minnesota
Win (OT)
3-2
Jayden Perron (GWG), T.J. Hughes (1G)
Looking Ahead
The Wolverines will take a well-deserved bye week before heading to Columbus to face Ohio State on January 30-31. With the Big Ten title race entering its final stretch, Michigan sits "firmly entrenched" in first place, looking every bit like the favorite to hoist a national championship trophy this spring.