Michigan Hockey Game #37: Michigan 7, Ohio State 3
CLICK HERE for Game Recap from Kristy McNeil and other pertinent information and HERE for current Pairwise Rankings.
What just happened (TL;DR): The narrative coming into the game was Michigan’s breakouts and ability to get the puck in transition. Ohio State had stuffed Michigan in a locker in their last couple of games. Not tonight. Michigan beat the forecheck time and time again. They got out and filled the net with ease. Michigan blitzed Jakub Dobes repeatedly, scoring five times before adding empty netters late. Just like football.
FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)
|
Total Attempts |
Even Strength |
Power Play |
Close (within 1) |
Even Strength % |
Ohio State |
69 |
67 |
2 |
4 |
48% |
Michigan |
82 |
73 |
9 |
10 |
52% |
Forward Notes.
-Michigan took Ohio State’s forecheck and shoved it right back at them. On the first shift, Michigan generated an OMR, leading to Gavin Brindley sniping the top corner to give Michigan the lead 23 seconds into the game. Aside from a stretch in the first period where Michigan got hemmed in for a little while, the Wolverines were quick and efficient moving the puck to the open cutter and getting out of the zone. That lead to many chances in the offensive end. Jakub Dobes didn’t have his best game, but he also gave Ohio State a chance by making a number a great saves. Michigan just dominated the game in the offensive end and won the game in the first two periods.
-Michigan got finishes from their top three lines on Saturday night. Aside from Brindley’s early snipe, Mackie Samoskevich had a graceful tip deflection at the top of the crease to put Michigan up 3-0 midway through the first period. Rutger McGroarty made a sweet pass from the boards to a cutting Adam Fantilli down the slot. Fantilli blistered a shot past Dobes. Jackson Hallum tallied his 6th goal of the year on a snapshot off of a faceoff win that seemed to surprise Jakub Dobes. Hallum just keeps adding to his repertoire.
-Rutger McGroarty (1G, 1A) and Adam Fantilli (2G, 2A) both added empty net goals late in the third period, sending Yost into euphoria.
-Adam Fantilli scored his 60th point of the year in his 32nd game of the year. He increased his national point lead to six over second place Colin Graf of Quinnipiac.
What a night for Keaton Pehrson (Bill Rapai)
Defense Notes.
-Michigan’ defense was lights out for the first two periods when the game was in doubt. Not only did they break the puck out with ease and efficiency, but they didn’t surrender many good looks, either. Ohio State’s forecheck ate them up time and time again during the season, but Michigan adjusted well and passed the puck really well in their own zone. Now, in the third period, some bad habits returned. OSU turned up the pressure and threw caution to the wind more than usual. The Wolverines did start to break down and cede chances. However, they had done the work earlier that put them in a position to be able to afford a couple more mistakes. When Michigan plays well in their own zone, they are extremely tough to beat.
-Keaton Pehrson had one of his best (if not his best) games in a Michigan uniform. He had maybe the best pass of his career on a diagonal from the point to Mackie Samoskevich’s stick at the top of the crease. Pehrson added another assist making a nice zone exit and chipping the puck up the boards, around a Buckeye, to Adam Fantilli for his empty netter. He was the best defensive defenseman on the ice for Michigan tonight, as well. Pehrson has played top pair minutes next to Luke Hughes for the last couple of months. Until Jacob Truscott returns, that should continue. Tonight, was a great night for the senior.
SPECIAL TEAMS CHART
|
PP Opportunities |
PP Corsi For |
PP Shots/Minute |
Ohio State |
2/3 |
3 |
1 (2/2) |
Michigan |
0/3 |
9 |
.89 (4/4.5) |
Power Play. Ohio State has the best penalty kill in the nation, and it showed on Saturday night. Michigan got one great look all night. It was a sweet tic-tac-toe from high to low to the slot…with an extra dish to the opposite wing. Adam Fantilli received the pass, but missed the wide open net. Other than that, the Wolverines had trouble threatening, though. Not the best showing for the Michigan power play.
Penalty Kill. WOOF. Michigan basically faced two man advantages and gave up a goal on each one (the other power play was 20 seconds of skating in OSU’s own zone). Ohio State dissected Michigan’s PK with ease on their opening chance. Two passes between Wolverine killers and one through a defenseman in front of the net. Easy tap-in goal. On the second goal, Mason Lohrei made an incredible play to beat a guy, catch a pass with his skate, shift it to his stick, and fire it just wide off the endboards. The puck ricocheted to Travis Treloar to the side of the net. He made a creative shot to lift the puck over a diving Erik Portillo and around the post. It was a skilled play, but not as hard to pull off when no one is around you. Also, two goals on two shots? That PK will not get it done next week or in the tournament.
He’s coming around. That’s three really solid games in a row for the Big Swede (Bill Rapai)
GOALTENDING CHART
|
Michigan Shots Faced (House) |
Ohio State Shots Faced (House) |
First Period |
11 (4) |
14 (8) |
Second Period |
9 (5) |
14 (9) |
Third Period |
18 (9) |
17 (10) |
Overtime |
n/a |
n/a |
TOTAL |
38 (18) |
45 (27) |
Notes. This was more of the Erik Portillo from last season. He had a couple of issues with rebounds at times (mainly the waved off goal), but he was very sound positionally and made very Mount Portillo saves, taking away space from sharp angled. His best play of the night (maybe the season) was recognizing Tate Singleton alone on the backside. Before Singleton could get a shot away, Erik lunged at him stuffing the attempted shot and smothering the puck. Not only was it a great play, but it was even better awareness. Awesome. Regarding the goals, he never really had a chance. Both power play tallies came from in tight, open shooters, and incisive passing. That’s not on Portillo at all. If Michigan gets these performances from the big Swede, their chances in the next few weeks go much higher.
Usually Hallum is the guy getting out in transition. Tonight it was a snapper (Bill Rapai)
ODD MAN RUSH CHART
Defense |
Rushes |
Advs |
Escape% |
Offense |
Rushes |
Advs |
Scoring% |
1st Period |
1 |
3v2 |
100% |
|
2 |
3v2 x2 |
50% |
2nd Period |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
3rd Period |
1 |
2v1 |
100% |
|
2 |
3v1, 2v1 |
0% |
OT |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Total |
2 |
2v1, 3v2 |
100% |
|
4 |
3v2 x2, 3v1, 2v1 |
25% |
Notes. Ohio State got a 3v2 early in the first period. Portillo made the initial save, but couldn’t cover it. Eventually, the puck was whacked into the net. Brandon Naurato challenged for being offside, and he was correct…overturning the goal. Portillo also made a save and scramble cover later on another 2v1. Those were the only OMRs that Michigan surrendered…a far cry from the six that they gave up in Cleveland, the last time these teams played.
Michigan got out in transition all night. Luke Hughes beat the forecheck on the first shift, leading to a 3v2. Gavin Brindley tucked inside from the wing, fired from the slot, and beat Dobes in the top corner to open the scoring. The Wolverines also logged a few more chances in transition, but could not get as good of looks. Mark Estapa had a chance late on a 2v1, but Dobes was there.
FINAL THOUGHTS
As good as Minnesota is, Ohio State has been Michigan’s nemesis this season. Sitting in the stands, watching warm-ups, this had a The Game feel to it. Usually, that doesn’t happen in hockey because teams play too often. However, on Saturday, this was Michigan’s biggest test. Not only beating a really good team in a tournament, but attempting to overcome their own kryptonite. Not only did they win the game, they played really well, and broke through Ohio State, while shutting them down. That feels like coaching to me. Michigan learned, re-evaluated, then executed the necessary game plan. Once they got out in open ice consistently, their talent took over. As I write this, Minnesota is beating Michigan State 3-1. It looks like the Wolverines will have to win a Big Ten Tournament on the road…again. Good thing they did it last year, as well.
Just. Like. Football.
March 11th, 2023 at 10:35 PM ^
The first satisfying Michigan game in months, and I loved it.
They were infinitely cleaner in the defensive end (other than a couple really ugly turnovers from Luke Hughes), and the first two goals they let in were shorthanded on two really weak calls. Portillo looked much stronger and more confident, and when he dropped his stick, he ended up drawing a penalty because of Tyler Duke's inability to think. This was a game where Michigan's talent clearly showed, and thank goodness it did.
Since I'm prone to complaining, though, we've got to get Steven Holtz off the ice (or, at the very least, off the penalty kill). I could clip numerous instances where I said, out loud to myself, "What are you doing?" when Holtz had the puck. The second Buckeye goal finds him literally screening Portillo and checking no Buckeyes, which creates an easy opportunity in front of the net. He's commended for his physical play, but provided next to none of that tonight. He offers nothing on offense, either, (otherwise, I'd also be advocating for Seamus Casey to take a seat), and so, IMO, he's got to go, no matter how heartening his personal story is.
Not sure about Pairwise, but it very much looks like M could be locked into the last one seed at this point.
March 11th, 2023 at 10:59 PM ^
UM’s discipline was outstanding. The two penalties were bad calls, especially #2. On the 1st, the OSU player lost an edge before Hughes touched him. The announces reaction to #2 said it all. They used the word “phantom”. The OSU player belongs on a soccer pitch. Total dive.
March 11th, 2023 at 11:06 PM ^
Second one he absolutely skated into Estapa's foot and fell. Truly terrible. First one was a little bit of a cross check but the guy was already falling as you said.
I loved the outcome but trying to make long passes / clearing the zone while giving away pucks down the middle of the ice will not be a winning strategy next weekend. I watched the Minnesota game and they’re not going to botch the 5/6 opportunities we gifted to MSU doing such things. Always great to crush OSU. Also, when did icing the puck on every in zone face off trying to score a full rink open netter at end of game become a thing.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:05 PM ^
i was also really surprised they didnt give osu a 5 minute major for our first (?) power play. seems like if that had been a michigan player making that hit he would have been handed a game misconduct
Yes, that definitely should have been 5. He might have caught the shoulder a bit but it was textbook targeting of the head from a blindside on a defenseless player. Not sure why other teams get away with legit majors when Michigan seems to get called for every borderline one.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:16 AM ^
What just happened (TL;DR)
Please keep doing these for all the (forgive me) 2nd tier sports. It helped me to better understand and enjoy the moment as I read the article
Not sure hockey counts as a "2nd tier" sport around here.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:38 AM ^
“Just like football”
Ahhh…
This guarantees that Michigan will play in the Manchester Regional, correct? Regardless of what BU and Harvard do?
March 12th, 2023 at 10:28 AM ^
There are no guarantees with the NCAA hockey committee...but yes, I will give it a 98 percent chance that Michigan is #1 seed in the New Hampshire regional and BU or Harvard will be the #2 seed.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:58 PM ^
Here is where I gripe about the terrible state of the NCAA tournament format again
For the umpteenth year there is functionally no midwest regional (just a west and 3 northeasts again) so we get to be a 1 seed playing at a regional an hour from those campuses.
Michigan needs to be bidding Yost or Toledo or Grand Rapids every year forever until this stupid format is trash canned (assuming those arenas are interested in potentially taking a bath again)
Or Saginaw or Belle Tire Arena or the Red Wings practice rink or the outdoor rink at Hart Plaza. Just something that isn't in Indiana, Pennsylvania, or West Virginia.
March 12th, 2023 at 10:23 AM ^
Love these write-ups, David. Thought you were a bit harsh on the boys’ power play. Take a look at that man up early in the 3rd. There were at least 3 prime chances, maybe 4 or 5 depending on definitions. The best was McGroarty all alone between the hash marks in front of Dobes. I thought the whole 2 minutes was dangerous.
March 12th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
You're right about the third power play. It was definitely better.
March 12th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
Kind of a random observation but I thought the play by play guy was really solid for BTN. It's so often a mickey mouse production
While that wasn't a perfect game, that was still a solid beating of a team that has had our number this year and will be a high 3 seed in the tourney. A very encouraging showing from an inconsistent squad heading into the tourney
If the CHN pairwise predictor is accurate, Michigan should be locked into the last 1 seed at this point. Not bad for a first year head coach
Yeah, Jason Ross Jr. did a nice job. Apparently calls the Blackhawks games on local TV so makes sense. Also does random stuff for BTN, worked a fair amount of college basketball (mostly women's I think) this year.
There are some REALLY interesting pairwise implications next week....
If Minnesota State loses to Northern Michigan there's a good chance they get left out of the tournament even though they won the championship regular season and got to the conference tourney championship. (Mich Tech is sitting pretty safe at 10 in the pairwise even though they finished 2nd in the league to Minn St and lost in the conference semis)
Mich state is pretty much out since they're at 16 right now, Atlantic Hockey is going to have their autobid from below 16 and there's not a combo of events from what I could tell where other teams results would bump Mich St up in pairwise.
Alaska is hanging on by a thread. They need chalk to hold in ecac and hockey east.
Allentown could turn into a bracket of death real fast with a possibility of Denver, BU, Penn St and Minnesota St or smoking hot Northern Michigan.
Sill a lot unsettled going into next weekend about who even is going to be in the tournament. Ironically, Michigan at Minnesota is probably the game with the least implications in terms of seeding and tournament placement, even though it's #1 vs. #4.
Poor Alaska. They really are hanging on by a thread. Looks like they need one bid stealer or less to stay in
edit: I didnt realize they were at 15. I thought they were at 14. They need chalk
The officiating left something to be desired... namely actually calling the game.
Holy Cross eliminated RIT with a 5-1 win, so that leaves Niagara as the highest Atlantic Hockey PWR left, currently 31.
[Edit] Canisius beat Niagara 4-2, so the AHT winner will have PWR in the 40s.
March 12th, 2023 at 11:36 PM ^
Pairwise Probability Matrix seems to strongly suggest we'll be opening against Minnesota State.
Love this writeup and best part..."Just like football." Made my day.
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