trey augustine

ESSENTIALS

OVERVIEW 

For the third straight year, Michigan is playing for the Big Ten Hockey Tournament championship. The last two went pretty well, so why not do it a third time? In 2022 Michigan rolled into the Twin Cities and scored four goals in the first half of the game before allowing two late goals with the net empty that briefly made it close before ultimately holding on to win. Last year they rematched with Minnesota and played a back-and-forth game that was eventually won with Dylan Duke’s third period goal. Like the last two years, Michigan is playing the B1G Regular Season Champions in the title round, but this year that champion is a new team, the Michigan State Spartans. 

[AFTER THE JUMP: the preview]

CLICK HERE for Game Recap from Kristy McNeil and other pertinent information and HERE for current Pairwise Rankings.

What just happened (TL;DR): In a much more wide open game, Michigan’s puck management in their own zone left a lot to be desired and it cost the Wolverines. The Spartans capitalized on poor defensive zone play by their counter-parts, grabbed a 3-1 lead, and then held on down the stretch. Trey Augustine is the best goalie I’ve seen this season. There’s a reason he was drafted so high, and he did it once again to Michigan in Detroit, stopping 36 of 38 shots.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Michigan created chances, again, getting almost 40 shots. They just couldn’t solve Trey Augustine, again. I don’t have the xG or shot charts, but I didn’t think their dangerous looks were as numerous as previous games against MSU. Augustine was obviously very good, but he didn’t have to go into Hero Mode, start flashing his cape. Michigan State has played Michigan better each time they faced them this season…a little reminiscent of how Michigan adjusted to Ohio State last season.

-Alex and I had a texting debate about the top line. Should Michigan stick with them or break them up to create a little jump and depth? They weren’t their best on Saturday by any means. During our conversation, Rutger McGroarty hit Gavin Brindley on the back post for a goal. Just kinda funny. It will be interesting to see what Michigan does with the Hero Line after this weekend.

-I don’t have a ton more to say. Trey Augustine bailed out the MSU defense better than Jake Barczewski bailed out Michigan’s defense. Augustine is really good.

Defense Notes.

-There’s just no way around it anymore. Michigan just gives the puck away too much in their own zone. It’s definitely been worse than tonight, but it’s honestly just not good enough. The D-zone puck management needs to be cleaned up imminently. All of the goals were caused by faulty defensive plays (Jake Barczewski did factor a bit on the third, too).

-Michigan has a lot of pieces and quality players…but if they want to start reaching their ceiling and have a shot of hanging anything at all in the rafters…or just making the NCAA Tournament, they just have to stop turning the puck over in their own zone. That’s it. I have nothing more to say.

CLICK HERE for Game Recap from Kristy McNeil and other pertinent information and HERE for current Pairwise Rankings.

What just happened (TL;DR): After building a dominating 4-1 lead (and a 30-9 shot lead), Michigan’s defense completely collapsed and their goaltending could not bail them out. The Spartans scored four goals in just under seven minutes to take a second period lead. Trey Augustine was the difference in the game. He played like a high draft pick, bailing out his own leaky defense time and time and time and time again. Michigan beat him a few times, poured it on, and Augustine just made enough high danger saves to get his team to the point where they started finishing their own golden chances.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Once again, Michigan dominated statistically all throughout the game. They controlled play for the first thirty minutes, finishing their chances. On Saturday, however, the collapse ensued again. Friday night seems like a lifetime ago. Honestly, I’m not sure what to think, anymore. Is it mental? Michigan was just blowing them out of the water in all phases, once again, and then…just started managing the puck like a hot potato. Maybe they need to sacrifice a live chicken…

-With Gavin Brindley out with an injury, apparently, Garrett Schifsky stepped into the first line and completely looked the part. While he didn’t have Brindley’s finishing ability, he moved well enough and forechecked nicely, and gathered in two more assists. He had a great first half of his freshman year and has started backing that up with a great weekend against the in-state rival.

-After going to the Hero Line, the 25-13-9 second line really jumped on Saturday night. TJ Hughes tallied Michigan’s first two goals. He also assisted on the other two goals. Nick Moldenhauer only got one assist, but looked dangerous all night. He looks primed for a big second half. Dylan Duke was classic Double D. He just made smart plays in the zone, moved it well, and got to the greasy areas. He was credited with Michigan’s late Extra Attacker goal.

-Scoring five goals should be enough on almost every night in a non-bizarre hockey game. However, it seems Michigan only plays bizarre-bonkers hockey games…and the Defense and Goaltending sections are up next. Go get a drink, first.

Defense Notes.

-For the first period and a half, Michigan picked up right where they left off at Munn on Friday night. They kept their House and own zone in total very clean. After that…it got ROUGH. That seven minute stretch during the second period where MSU scored four times…Michigan’s defense turned the puck over in a dangerous spot on three of them. Then, they did again on the sixth goal in the third period. Same old bugaboo.

-Speaking of DZTOs…Jacob Truscott continue his forgettable weekend. He was the culprit on two of the second period goals. He also had a literal centering pass from behind his own net in the first period. Fortunately for him, the chance went wide. Honestly, I haven’t thought he’s had the best year, overall, but these two games have just been a weekend to burn the tape. He’s got to figure it out and fast.

-Tyler Duke…basically the same thing. He just had an absolute brownout, throwing the puck into the corner, like hitting the wrong button in a video game. Then, lost Nicolas Muller in the slot, who scored the third goal. In the third period, he just fell over, skating for a loose puck, giving State an advantage in the zone. After a Casey misplay, it was another A+ chance for Muller, and State had a two goal lead (6-4).

-Michigan dressed seven defensemen, but Luca Fantilli did not see the ice…to my knowledge. It’s clear the coaching staff prefers Steve Holtz. He got beat behind his net and cross-checked a guy that led to MSU’s early power play goal. I was sorta on the Luca Fantilli bandwagon for the sixth D spot. It hasn’t happened yet. Holtz did make some plays on loose pucks and did do some things well. He’s just always going to be at a bit of a disadvantage in a skate race.