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Mac Bennett (Montreal Canadiens draft pick) picked a good time to get his first goal of 2013-14.
The senior Michigan defenseman scored the game-winning goal with 1:35 remaining to give the Wolverines a 5-4 victory Monday night in Columbus. Freshman J.T. Compher (Buffalo Sabres) scored two goals for the visitors. Forward Zach Hyman and defenseman Michael Downing (Florida Panthers), meanwhile, joined Bennett with their first goals of the season.
Ohio State (8-6-0, 2-0-0-0 Big Ten) nearly came back from a 4-1 deficit with 3 goals during a 3:54 stretch in the third period. Buckeyes junior forward Ryan Dzingel (Ottawa Senators) scored his ninth goal in highlight-reel fashion, beating Wolverine goalie Steve Racine as he was tripped, to tie the game at 1 in the second period.
However, Compher beat Ohio State freshman goaltender Logan Davis twice for his first multi-goal game.
By the time Downing scored from the point - the first goal by a Wolverines defenseman all season - 2:49 into the third period it looked like a game Michigan would run away with in front of 5,53 fans at Schottenstein Center.
The Buckeyes wouldn't go without a fight. In a game that featured 16 penalties, OSU went 2-7 on the power play. Max McCormick (Senators) got Ohio State's first when he beat Steve Racine, who made 39 saves Monday, with 9:23 remaining in regulation.
After David Gust scored his second goal of the season during 4x4 play, Tanner Fritz got his 1:19 later on the power play. All of a sudden it was a tie game with 5:29 remaining.
That was as close as the Buckeyes would get. Phil Di Guiseppe (Carolina Hurricanes) missed an open net shot. Davis, who made 16 saves, was not lucky a second time. Left wide open on the doorstep, Bennett tapped in a Mike Chiasson pass for the win and sweep.
Fritz and Dzingel each had three points (1G-2A) Monday in a losing effort.
Michigan, which took the first game of the home-and-home series with a 4-3 overtime win, continues its streak of winning close games late. The Wolverines are 3-0-1 when reaching overtime, but now can add a last-minute regulation win to the bunch.
With the victory, Michigan (10-2-1, 2-0-0-0 Big Ten) takes six points in the 2 game series. The Wolverines are tied with Minnesota for first place in the Big Ten after the opening weekend of conference play.
Michigan next faces the US Under-18 team in an exhibition game Thursday. Ohio State is off until December 28-29 when the Buckeyes face Mercyhurst in non-conference play.
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Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation and College Hockey News. You can also follow him on Twitter -- Follow @gopherstate