better defense

Cooper Marody played like a Hobey Baker finalist [James Coller]

OFFENSE

Analysis: Awesome. This was a wonderful output of offense from Michigan. The Wolverines consistently got into the House and created chances from all over the ice. While it was a tight game, the main reason that is stayed that way was Cayden Primeau. He made about 5-6 fantastic saves. Otherwise, there is a good chance Michigan hangs a couple more on the possession-starved Huskies.

The DMC line went head-to-head with the top scoring line in the country and hung a –3 on them. I’ll get more into the defense in the next section, but Cooper Marody danced throughout the offensive zone and connected with Calderone and Dancs on numerous occasions. Cooper’s first goal was a circling blind shot that snuck in short-side. Dancs added a soft goal to retake the lead, as he shot from a poor angle and was still able to deflect it off of Primeau and inside the far post. Marody’s game winner came from just outside the crease off of a deft dish from Tony Calderone, who had driven the wing and gotten to the goalline.

FWIW, the Slaker-Norris combination could have also had a couple of goals, themselves…including Norris missing a WIDE OPEN net from just under the dot. The Pastujovs-Becker line also created some havoc. Northeastern has a great scoring line, yet couldn’t always get them the puck in the offensive end. Michigan identified that and exploited it all night.

[After THE JUMP: come for the offense, stay for the defense (!). And special teams. And goaltending]

Captain Calderone with his signature snipe [Jamer Coller]

OFFENSE

Analysis: Michigan’s forecheck has been great throughout the weekend and it was on display again in the first period. They did not let Notre Dame out of their zone very often and created a number of solid chances.

Looking at their numbers overall, this is a great offensive performance. They took a lot of attempts and got into the House area for almost half of them. There is a reason that Cale Morris is a Hobey candidate, as was evident this evening. Michigan could have had a few more goals with as many good looks as they had, but Morris stole the show. For their lone goal, Dancs forced a DZTO on the boards, Marody dished to Calderone, and Calderone sniped one just off of Morris’s glove and into the net, therby concluding the scoring.

[After THE JUMP: anatomy of a sweep]

Ah, finishing goals. [Bill Rapai]

OFFENSE

Analysis: Michigan started this game on fire. They created multiple OMRs right off the bat and put the puck in the net twice in the opening period. Hughes ripped a shot and Winborg deflected it behind Morris. Then Dancs found the puck off of a DZTO and beat Morris short side–Morris’s only soft goal of the four. Michigan was able to get deep in the House area all period and could have had a three or four goal lead after the first. Then, it slowwwwed wayyyyyy dowwwwn.

The penalty-fest in the second kept even strength play very similar. Calderone was able to poke home a garbage goal after James Sanchez drew a lot of attention in the slot. In the third, Michigan went full Sparty and registered a 4(1). But, as Sparty would, they scored on their only House chance, as Nick Pastujov picked up a pick in the neutral zone and found his brother across the crease to give M a 4-2 lead.

Tonight is a night that we remember to put Corsi in context. Michigan played very defensively–and rightly so-in the third. The Irish also turned up the pressure, as they needed a couple of goals. The numbers were low, but the offense was fine in context tonight. Plus, they finished chances! WOO!

[After THE JUMP: a couple unbelievable even-strength stats and woop yep probably just cursed them]

“Any more goals yet?” [JD Scott]

[Ed. A- David DMed me about this piece late last night and I didn't see them until now, so the front-page tardiness is on me. Should still get you ready for tonight's game at LCA, though]

OFFENSE

Analysis: I’ve never seen such a discrepancy in even strength attempts in a period. MSU did have a long power play early, but Michigan controlled most of the game at even strength. The story of the game was Lethemon making saves and Michigan skaters just not finishing. The Wolverines created chances all night and got pucks to the net from all over the ice, including the House area and low slot. They just could not beat Lethemon. Aside from a handful of games this year, Michigan has generally been able to create looks, but their finishing has consistently been suspect. For the first half of the season, the DMC line carried them, but even that production has dropped,as defenses have been able to prepare for them; Michigan has also drawn higher-quality goaltending. Nothing exemplifies that better than tonight’s game.

[Hit THE JUMP for more]

Yeah, kinda like that [Eric Upchurch]

OFFENSE

Analysis: Granted, this was probably score-adjusted, but whoa. After a night where Michigan did not create anything at even strength, this looked like a different offense. Michigan took 31 attempts (60% of their total) from the House (front of the net to the dots and up to the top of the faceoff circles) and came away with no goals. Sports! Before there was any score, Michigan created about four looks that had great chances of producing a goal. So, it wasn’t all situational. If the Wolverines reproduce this, they’ll likely get four or five on the board. Hayton played well, but he had bounces go his way tonight. There were rebounds, trickles, and whiffs all night. Michigan just could not bury anything. There are nights like that, and Michigan got one when they could least afford it. Let’s see if they can reproduce this next weekend. They’ll need to do so.

[After THE JUMP: the defense held up, but the goaltending didn't]

Alright, last night was about helping people. Tonight…let’s see what we can get Ace (and maybe Brian –if there’s a revolt!) to do! More things on the table! Hair cuts, dye jobs, ink, piercings, limb severances…ok, maybe I’ve taken this too far. Just give, okay?
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign/in-honor-of-the-anbenders-lets-find-a-cure-for-cfs/

OFFENSE

Analysis: This was not an offensive juggernaut by any means, but this is not what the game lent itself to for Michigan. They scored super early, a nice wrister by Brendan Warren– again. Michigan then got a PP tally a few minutes later. While they did create a few chances, Michigan was mostly content to control play and suffocate this game away…which they seemed to do starting in the mid 2nd period. Aside from trading PP goals in the 2nd, Michigan enjoyed a lot possession and generally put the puck in safe places. In a series that generally requires goalz to win, this one did not, and Michigan played it well.

[After THE JUMP: a defensive juggernaut in wait?]