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

What just happened (TL;DR): After a couple of periods to forget, Michigan played their best third period of the season against an elite opponent in a big time game. After a little puck luck, Michigan’s jumbled line of Garrett Schifsky, TJ Hughes, and Dylan Duke assembled the prettiest goal of the season at the most crucial time of the season in what would be the game-winner. Michigan came from behind, flipped the third period on its head, shut down their opponent, and then held the fort to close the game. Who’s breaking narratives, now?

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

	Total Attempts	Even Strength	Power Play	Close (within 1)	Even Strength %
North Dakota	48	48	0	32	47%
Michigan	56	55	1	36	53%

Forward Notes.

-For the first two periods, Michigan couldn’t get much going. They barely had the puck during the opening half of the beginning frame. While they finally got some possession, they over-passed, and didn’t just shoot the puck on a beatable goalie. In the second period, they started doing so and got rewarded early. Once the third period started, the Wolverines were flying, dominating puck possession, shots, and attempts.They registered the first nine shots of the third period. Each period seemed to bring improvement with offensive creation. That’s what you want to see.

-Two of Michigan’s goal resulted from just throwing the puck on net. Both goals were deflections in front of the crease to open shooters at the side of the net. Steve Holtz fired the first one that Frank Nazar scooped up, beating Ludvig Persson. Tyler Duke fired the second one, hitting Garrett Schifsky on its way to TJ Hughes’s stick, giving Michigan a 3-2 lead. Another point in my previews was just getting pucks to Persson and making him make a lot of saves. Once the shot total started rising, the goals started flowing.

-Perhaps the prettiest goal of the season was the fourth and game-winner. Garrett Schifsky made a slick pass ahead to TJ Hughes, who softly sauced a pass across the low slot to Dylan Duke, who smoothly fired the puck in the net. Michigan bounced, jumbled, and blendered their lines seemingly all night. While there seemed to be a bit of discombobulation at times, it paid off watching the goal hit the back of the net.

-Michigan looked very much locked down for the first couple of periods. They overpassed a ton in the first. They also just didn’t create enough in the second. Major props to the coaching staff and players for figuring some things out and dominating the third period.

Defense Notes.

-Early in the first period, the Wolverines made the Big Mistake. For two periods it was the difference and on track to being what ended their season. On a 2v3, North Dakota made a simple scissor move, crossing their forwards upon entrance. Instead of just racing back to protect the house, Ethan Edwards chased Abram Wiebe to the boards. Marshall Warren did as well (same with Garrett Schifsky, who I don’t fault as much due to circumstances), leaving no one on Hunter Johannes streaking into the slot. Johannes fired into the top corner to open the scoring. A simple switch, an extra man back…didn’t matter. It ended with North Dakota’s best chance of the night.

-After that though, Michigan was really, really good defensively. They didn’t allow much, even less from dangerous areas, and pretty much locked down the third period, sans a play or two. Not too bad. Maybe they just needed to get one out of their system?

-Marshall Warren, again, was really good. He got back a few times to eliminate potential breakaways. He was strong and physical around the net and on the boards. He’s really developed into the player Michigan hoped they were getting last summer.

-Seamus Casey apparently took a big hit in the first period and never returned. That…is really bad news. I have no idea what the reason is, but not playing in the final two periods is not what we need to hear this time of year. The good news is that Luca Fantilli and Steve Holtz both played pretty well in his absence. It’s not often we’ve seen both of them play as much as they did tonight…but here we are. And we’re still standing!

-This will be known as the Keaton Pehrson Game. The former Michigan Wolverine registered two assists and scored a goal. I joked in the preview that he would score the overtime winner that would end Michigan’s season. Well, instead, he helped both teams. Two previous times in his career, he had a two point night. On Friday, he registered two assists for the Fighting Sioux and deflected a puck into the net for Michigan. His deflected goal came off of a play by Ludvig Persson hitting him with the puck. We’ll call it a three point night…the largest scoring night of his collegiate career.

Celebrations are always fun (Vince Coughlin)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

	PP Opportunities	PP Corsi For	PP Shots/Minute
North Dakota	0/1	0	0/1
Michigan	0/1	1	0/1

Power Play. Michigan got one power play all game…well, kinda. They got just over a minute of power play time before there was some 4x4 after Gavin Brindley took a penalty. Michigan attempted one puck on net and it went wide. Okay.

The thing about this game is that it is so different from the hockey we’ve watched all season. Penalties aplenty. Power plays, penalty kills, 5x3s, majors…and on and on. Not in the NCAA Tournament. No one gets a penalty. I kept bracing for so many whistles that never blew. I don’t think it’s really good or bad, but it’s very different and takes some adjusting.

Penalty Kill.  As previously mentioned, Michigan barely had a power play. Well, North Dakota didn’t even register an attempt on net on theirs. Good for Michigan, I suppose. This is just a completely different game.

One thing I wonder is if Big Ten teams struggle when having actual referees because the game is called so differently, meaning they have to play differently. Michigan’s third period was very different from a physicality perspective. They hit like I haven’t seen them hit all year. I’m guessing because unless there was a decapitation, ain’t no one goin’ to the box.

 

 

Go DJ! That’s my DJ! (Vince Coughlin)

GOALTENDING CHART

	Michigan Shots Faced (House)	North Dakota Shots Faced (House)
First Period	7	4
Second Period	10	11
Third Period	10	15
Overtime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	27	30

Notes. Jake Barczewski started in net on Friday night, and he was fantabulous. He was very solid positionally, didn’t give up major rebounds, and was just an absolute rock down the stretch. He snared one puck that had eyes, bouncing through multiple players from both teams, ending up on a Fighting Sioux stick right in front of him. At that point, you just knew he had the game locked. I don’t think he could have done much on any of the goals. A blown defensive switch, a ridiculous redirect in front, and an open shooter from the side of the net after an original stop? That feels like hockey to me. Alex and I both put in our previews that one of the keys to Michigan winning on Friday night was getting an NCAA Tournament worthy performance from Barczewski. Step up big time, he did.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Defense	Rushes	Advs	Escape%	Offense	Rushes	Advs	Scoring%
1st Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
2nd Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		1	4v2	0%
3rd Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
OT	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
Total	n/a	n/a	n/a		1	4v2	0%

Notes. Brian tweeted about remembering Michigan/North Dakota games ending 8-6 with wide open hockey. This was not that. Michigan got one OMR all game, a Not Very Dangerous 4v2 that ended with a Rutger McGroarty shot from a non-threatening angle…with no rebound. That was it. Oh, and North Dakota got nothing. Lol. Not like the days of yore…

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Michigan beat North Dakota in an NCAA Tournament game! What do you think my thoughts are? AMAZING. You get so few shots at teams like this. Winning a game against a blueblood in an elimination game is always a Game To Remember. The biggest thing, though, is how they did it. The bugaboos that have killed them all year were all overcome and eradicated in this game. Good Defense (sans one goof)? Check. Goaltending? Check. Third period rally, lead, and hold? Checks all around. They also did it mostly without one of their best players. What a game.

Sparty is next, again. There are narratives, emotions, grudges, and scores to settle. Ride or Die. This is why you play. Sunday night, 6:30 EST, ESPN2/ESPN+.