how to defeat a magic hockey team

THE ESSENTIALS

THE US 

It's Tourney Time everybody! David and I have covered this Michigan Hockey team rather vigorously throughout the 2020-21 season on this blog (you can listen to this week's HockeyCast here!), but I understand that this is the time of year when non-hockey diehards tend to tune in to watch the important games, so I'll get everybody quickly up to speed on the season. 

Michigan came roaring out of the gates with a 4-0 start but skidded into the break to close the first half a disappointing 5-5. Since the start of 2021, it's generally been a pretty fun ride: 10-5-1 with a +36 goal differential over that span. There have still been frustrating letdown moments, but after watching this team play the other elite B1G teams (Minnesota, Wisconsin), there's every reason to believe Michigan can make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament and beat the best of the best on the right day. 

Michigan is powered by their youth and the overwhelming talent of that youth. The Wolverines boast two current first round picks (Brendan Brisson, Cam York; Johnny Beecher, also a first rounder, is OFTY), as well as three players who will go in the lottery of the 2021 NHL Draft (Owen Power, Kent Johnson, and Matty Beniers), in addition to a high second round pick in Thomas Bordeleau. The Wolverines are probably the most talented team in college hockey in terms of pure NHL talent, but as a consequence, are one of the NCAA's youngest teams. They also rely heavily on that young talent, with their top four scorers all being freshmen. Junior Strauss Mann, who could be playing his last games in the Maize & Blue this weekend, has held down the net with another stellar season. When Michigan is playing well, they have a high powered offense, a sturdy defense, and excellent goaltending, with few holes to exploit. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: Scouting the opponent and more thoughts]