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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Saturday night’s game wasn’t too different from Friday night’s game. Michigan State did manage to score a couple of goals on the most bizarre power play ever, but other than that, they didn’t create many great chances. Michigan again skated circles around the Spartans getting into dangerous areas on the regular. They also limited the Spartans to one shot in the third period. The game was never really close.

-Beecher and the Kids were all very dangerous. Mackie Samoskevich finished a breakaway right away. Dylan Duke also tallied on the power play. Johnny Beecher drove down the left wing and dished a smooth pass to Nick Granowicz who crashed the net.

-Jimmy Lambert has been close to scoring a number of times in the last month+. Finally, he got his breakthrough. He finished a 2v1 on the penalty kill, but his most impressive play was a swoop down the left wing crossing the crease and finishing over a prone Drew DeRidder.

-Mark Estapa got a five minute major for hitting from behind into the boards. And it was a good call. It was also unnecessary. He could easily have grabbed him or bumped him into the boards instead of checking him into an obvious call. Michigan got away with it because they were playing an inferior Michigan State team…but they are running out of games where it probably won’t cost them.

Defense Notes.

-Michigan didn’t get the goal-scoring barrage from the blue-liners like they did on Friday, but they also didn’t need it. Nick Blankenburg created plenty in the offensive end…especially on Michigan’s second power play. With Owen Power and Luke Hughes, sometimes the the captain gets lost in the shuffle. He’s been as consistent a player as the Wolverines have had this year.

-Luke Hughes again was a wonder. He could have easily had a couple goals off of smooth skating moves, but finally did find the back of the net with under a minute left to make it 7-3...just for fun. Hughes tallied a couple of assists, including one on a short-handed 2v1 after making a phenomenal defensive play to get the puck out of the zone. Jacob Truscott also backed up his three point night with a power play assist. Ethan Edwards also tallied a couple of helpers. Overall, a nice night from the backend.

Lambert tallied a couple times, including on a 2v1 on the penalty kill (James Coller)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Dylan Duke finished a double-whack right in front of the crease to give Michigan a two goal lead on their first power play attempt. Honestly, Michigan had a better second power play than their first but did not score. Blankenburg created a great look for Duke in the slot. He then made another move and got a Grade A chance that he shot wide. So far, Michigan’s Replacement Power Play has been pretty good.

Penalty Kill. Mark Estapa got a five minute major and the goal scoring exploded. Luke Hughes made a great play starting a 2v1 feeding Jimmy Lambert. Soon after, Mike Pastujov poked the puck free to Thomas Bordeleau who raced in alone, scoring Michigan’s second shorthanded goal in 90 seconds. Despite being down 4-0, Michigan State was able to tally twice (!) on the same power play. Nash Nienhuis beat a screened Portillo and Dennis Cesana fired a shot off of Keaton Pehrson’s back and into the net. That was the craziest power play I’ve ever seen.

Erik Portillo did the job (James Coller)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo played another solid game. He’ll probably want the third goal back after fumbling a save and being unable to freeze the puck, despite diving on it. That was not great. He was screened on the first power play goal and the second ricocheted off of the back of Keaton Pehrson. Portillo came out and made a big save after a bad DZTO. Overall, he played well enough. He also only faced one shot in the third period. 

Mackie lit the lamp very early for Michigan (James Coller)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Wow. Mackie Samoskevich picked off a terrible pass in the neutral zone and skated in alone beating DeRidder going forehand backhand to give Michigan the lead under two minutes into the game. Michigan also tallied a couple more OMRs on the penalty kill during Michigan State’s five minute major. Lambert finished a Hughes pass on a 2v1. Thomas Bordeleau also scored on a breakaway just 80 seconds later giving the Wolverines a 4-0 lead. That’s a rather efficient outing for Michigan in transition.

Michigan State did not register an OMR. They almost had a couple, but Luke Hughes is just too fast.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Michigan did what they needed to do: pound a bad hockey team and take all six points. That’s all you can do. They are also getting goals from guys who have not been scoring. They’ve been getting points from the defense. They’re checking every box. With Minnesota’s sweep of Ohio State, the Buckeyes are in need to a sweep in Ann Arbor next weekend…and that still might not be good enough. It looks like it will come down to the Wolverines and Golden Gophers.