rand pecknold
ESSENTIALS
| WHAT | #1 (3) Michigan vs #1 (2) Quinnipiac |
|
|---|---|---|
| WHERE |
Amalie Arena Tampa, FL |
|
| WHEN | 8:30 PM EST | |
| KRACH Prob. | Quinnipiac (51.7%) | |
| TELEVISION | ESPN2 |
OVERVIEW
Michigan arrives in their second straight Frozen Four tonight, also their third appearance in the event in five NCAA Tournaments. The team has been cursed in this round since winning their last national title in 1998, losing in the first Frozen Four game in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2018, and 2022, with only 2011 as a positive to show in the semis. This year's team doesn't care about that history though, they're ready to win the national title and end the quarter-century drought. Step one is knocking off Quinnipiac tonight, in a meeting of two #1 seeds. QPac was the 2nd overall seed while Michigan was 3rd, so the Bobcats will be the "home team". They are also slightly favored in the KRACH ratings, though DraftKings' moneyline has Michigan favored. This should be a good and close game.
[David Wilcomes]
THE US
The last time we saw Michigan, they were in the Midwest Regional in Allentown, PA. After steamrolling Colgate in the opening round 11-1, they got locked in a tight battle with B1G rival PSU. Michigan controlled the balance of play for the entirety of that game, but struggled to get anything by Nittany Lion goaltender Liam Souliere, who was playing one of the games of his life. After surrendering a goal while on the penalty kill, Michigan found themselves in a 1-0 hole entering the third, eventually scoring on the PP to tie it at 1, sending the game into OT. It took less than a minute for Michigan's Mackie Samoskevich to vanquish the program's OT demons on a wrist shot that was ripped by Souliere, sending Michigan to the Frozen Four in walk-off fashion.
The Wolverine team that arrives in Tampa tonight is a hot one, having won six games in a row and 14 of 19 since dating back to early January. They won the B1G Tournament title over Minnesota and are playing with a lot of confidence. Old pitfalls from earlier in the season, including discipline and wobbly goaltending, have been shored up in the past few weeks leading up to tonight. They boast elite talents all over the lineup in Adam Fantilli, Luke Hughes, and Samoskevich, and will bring a youthful swagger with them to the ice tonight. It should be fun.
[AFTER THE JUMP: Get to know the Bobcats]
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