2024 ncaa hockey tournament

When Michigan lost in the Frozen Four each of the last two years I wrote a game column style piece about the loss in the aftermath. This year, after Michigan's 4-0 defeat to Boston College in St. Paul last Thursday, I didn't quite feel the same way. There wasn't much of a game column to write because there wasn't much of a game that happened. Michigan trailed less than two minutes into the contest and never scored. They were competitive for awhile but before the 2nd period was up the game was over. The third period was simply obligatory. The Wolverines were dispatched by a far superior side. 

I have no narrative to speak of but certainly have some thoughts on the games and the season as a whole. So, today we'll go through it all, Hockey Weekly style: 

HockeyBullets About BC 

Overall... okay? I wasn't particularly despondent about the way Michigan played against Boston College. They went up against a team that was definitely better, Michigan played maybe a B-level game and BC played an A-level game. Michigan also got pretty unfavorable puck luck (the double deflection goal stands out) and that combination makes the score 4-0. Perhaps you do that game over again and Michigan loses 3-1 instead. They didn't choke, they just ran into their reasonable finish, having gotten as much out of this roster in the postseason as one could've expected. 

Pulling back the curtain on the underlying numbers. We talked about Boston College's possession numbers in the preview and this game was a pretty clear example of what those possession metrics look like. BC doesn't play with the puck as much as some elite teams and do let opponents shoot a decent amount, but they are a strong defensive team that limits how much the opponent gets near the net. They're well structured in their own zone and kept Michigan to the outside. The Wolverines held the zone, took shots, but with a good goalie in net and a roster of players who use their sticks and block shots well, it makes it difficult to score on even if you have the puck a lot. 

And then of course BC gets the opportunity to attack you in transition the other way. Michigan held the zone in the opening minute, got a look or two, and suddenly Seamus Casey is trapped in the OZ, the puck's turned over, and it's a 2v1. BC finishes it off and Michigan is trailing just like that. The Eagles didn't get a tremendous amount of rush chances, but they got some dangerous ones, also getting a breakaway that Cutter Gauthier scored on and a mini-break for Ryan Leonard that Jake Barczewski made a great save on. 4v4 play was an issue for Michigan, which was going to be a worry against a team as skilled as Boston College and allowed them to score off the rush even more. Michigan was spared by less PK time against this lethal PP, but the flip side was the 4v4 time, which proved just as deadly. You pick your poison against this team, Michigan was maybe moderately unlucky in their goal prevention, but at the end of the day they didn't score and that's a testament to BC's underrated defense and goaltending. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: takes, grades, 2024-25]

1 hour and 21 minutes

With David Nasternak and Alex Drain

This Podcast Has a Sponsor: Michigan Law Grad Jonathan Paul is the guy with the C you want skating next to the ref and pleading your case. He's also a good guy to sit next to at the hockey games.

ESSENTIALS

OVERVIEW

For the third straight year, Michigan Hockey is in the Frozen Four. In 2022, their super team rolled into Boston and was felled in overtime by eventual national champion Denver. In 2023, their Adam Fantilli-led squad arrived in Tampa and lost a tight game to eventual national champion Quinnipiac. Now the Wolverines head to St. Paul, Minnesota, the site of their 2018 Frozen Four appearance, looking to snap an 0-4 drought in national semifinal matchups since their last win in that round in 2011 (also St. Paul). That year Michigan was an underdog to #2 national seed North Dakota, in a matchup most similar to the one unfolding tonight, Michigan against #1 national seed Boston College, a super team that has rarely been beaten this season. 

THE US

Michigan's 2023-24 squad had a much bumpier arc than either the 2023 or 2022 teams that played in the Frozen Four. Where those teams were top five outfits nearly wire to wire, this Michigan team was on the outside of the bubble with only two weeks to go in the regular season. A messy year that saw defensive struggles, injury problems, bad luck, and sometimes spotty goaltending meant that Michigan did not find their stride until late, just in time to save the season and punch their ticket to the big dance. Though they are just 23-14-8 on the season and the national #10 seed (3rd in the Midwest regional), they've won 8 of their last 10 games, with one of those two losses being an OT game played under "contested refereeing". 

For those just tuning into hockey for tonight's game, Michigan is a high scoring offensive team with some of the most skilled scorers in the country. Forwards Gavin Brindley, Rutger McGroarty, Dylan Duke, and Frank Nazar lead the way offensively, while getting help from Seamus Casey on defense. They boast one of the best power plays NCAA Hockey has seen in some time and have generally had no problem filling the net this season. Defense has been more of an issue, but this Michigan team has improved on the penalty kill and generally done a much better job suppressing chances against over the last 6-7 weeks. Stronger play from veteran defensemen Marshall Warren and Jacob Truscott has helped in that regard and when they get saves from 5th year goalie Jacob Barczewski, Michigan is a hard team to beat. All of that was on display the last time Michigan played, when they beat two top five teams in the span of three days, knocking off North Dakota 4-3 and then getting revenge on Michigan St. with a 5-2 win to punch a ticket to St. Paul.  

[AFTER THE JUMP: The Them]