thank you goalie

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

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan was outplayed and outshot for the entire game, but they somehow managed a 3-1 lead in the second period. OSU was able to get a couple of goals to tie it, sending the game to overtime and eventually a shootout. Jake Wise got the only goal in the shootout to give Ohio State two points to Michigan’s one. Unfortunately, the camera was shot from space, so most specifics will not be had, tonight.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Michigan actually got a number of decent scoring chances. And they scored on some of them. They just did not get the volume that we’ve become accustomed to seeing this season. Ohio State’s forecheck was once again a major problem for Michigan. The Wolverines struggled to get out of their end and connect very much at all in the offensive end. Be that as it may, they did finish looks that did get on net. Adam and Luca Fantilli each had savable shots get through Jakob Dobes for Michigan’s first two goals.

-Jackson Hallum popped off the screen with his speed down the right wing. After he cleared the defenseman, he cut through the crease, waited until Dobes was down and out, and lifted the puck up and over him into the yawning cage. We’ve seen his speed all year, but that kind of stickhandling, patience, and shot lift are all a bit inconsistent. As he grows and solidifies those areas of his game…look out.

Defense Notes.

-This isn’t just about the defensemen (although it does include them). Michigan was just bad in their own zone. Ohio State took it to them a pinned them back all night. There were way too many Forever Shifts for the Buckeyes as Michigan was just chasing and hoping to just get a stick on a puck. When they would, too many times, they could not clear…let alone get the puck deep into the OSU end. Maybe the ice was bad? It probably was, late. But Michigan struggled like this at Yost against OSU in the Friday game. This is a matchup problem for Michigan. They fixed it a little on the second night a month ago. They’ll need to do that again before Saturday.

-Seamus Casey returned to the lineup on Thursday night. However, it looked like Luke Hughes went to the locker room and missed killing off the major in the first period. He also appeared to miss the third and overtime. There is no update as of this writing. Hopefully, he will be available for Saturday. If not…BAD. Michigan just cannot dodge the injury bug.

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

What just happened (TL;DR): Penn State controlled the puck and took twice as many shots as did Michigan. The Wolverines finished over twice as many shots as the Lions did, though. Penn State did get into the House, but Erik Portillo outplayed Liam Souliere before Souliere was chased, going down 4-1. The game never got too tight and the Wolverines added two empty netters and another goal after that. Xander Lamppa scored all three goals for the Ice Lions giving him a hat trick and doubling his goal count for the season.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Adam Fantilli showed why he’s almost always the best player on the ice, collecting four points (five if you count the assist on the second Lamppa goal, ha) after his empty-netter. He buried a chance on the power play, forced the DZTO that lead to Philippe Lapointe’s third tally of the year, and slammed home an empty-netter to unofficially end the game. That doesn’t even take into account the goal that he had taken away early in the second period (a bad call by the way). After his empty-netter, Fantilli pointed rather emphatically at the net saying “This one is going to count!”

-Jackson Hallum found the net after a fortunate deflection. Rutger McGroarty also sniped his tenth goal of the year on a wide open look in the slot. Philippe Lapointe also scored a similar goal from Fantilli. Michigan got scoring from their prized star AND plenty of depth scoring. This is the weekend for it against a highly-rated Penn State team and not the brightest outlook for Mackie Samoskevich…at least for this weekend.

Seamus Casey is a Dude (David Wilcomes)

Defense Notes.

-Seamus Casey put on a show on Friday night, showing why he might just have the highest ceiling of any defenseman on the ice. While he got a bit fortunate on his first assist that Jackson Hallum finished, his second was one of the plays of the year. He stickhandled through multiple Lions as he skated down the wing and dished to an open Rutger McGroarty blazing down the slot. Casey also created 2-3 more really good looks that could have been goals. He’s really fun to watch.

-Brendan Miles dressed for his first action of his career and looked…good? He didn’t do anything that will make the SC Top Ten, but he made smart plays and was not noticeable for anything negative. He did get stuck out there for a Forever Shift in the third, but that wasn’t all on him by any means. Luca Fantilli also got his first goal as a Wolverine, catching a puck on his backhand, switching to his forehand and beating Noah Grannan with a nice shot.

**PSA: There will be no Breakdown tomorrow night (and possibly not for the next few Saturdays) due to unfortunately scheduling. Stay tuned**

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

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan got their butts handed to them. Penn State out-skated, out-thought, out-worked, out-shot, and out-scored the Wolverines. Noah West kept Michigan in it as long as he could, but by the mid-third period, Michigan was just struggling to gain the red line. Erik Portillo missed the game because he didn’t feel well. Alex looked at me and wondered if everyone on the team didn’t feel well. It kinda looked like it. Regardless, Michigan will need a better performance on Saturday night.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Oof. Michigan struggled to move the puck…anywhere, really. At times the top line was able to gain the zone and circulate a little, but they never really got any Grade A chances that they could get on net. Pucks jumped, bounced, or drifted all night. There were very few smooth entries or sustained offensive pressures. This was the worst offensive night from a Michigan hockey team in quite some time.

-I don’t think I even have a second thing to say about Michigan’s forwards/offense. It was that rough.

Defense Notes.

-Just sloppy all around. The Wolverines were stuck in their own zone for basically the whole game. Penn State pressured them with reckless abandon, and Michigan could not get a controlled exit all night. It didn’t matter who was on the ice, no one could string passes together and move out of the defensive end. A rough showing all around. Nothing was worse than a couple minute stretch where Michigan turned the puck over, missed passes, threw the puck to…who knows where. Ture Linden finished off that sequence with and open net, backdoor goal. Blah.

-Seamus Casey made a few nice plays in the offensive zone (the few times Michigan ventured that far down the ice). He created space and got some looks at the net. Alex said he’s been Michigan’s best defenseman all year. It’s hard to argue with that. Luke Hughes is starting to look a bit too much like an older brother at times. Jacob Truscott has been good, but also inconsistent. Ethan Edwards upside is great, but he still makes mistakes in his own zone and gets caught in the wrong spot. The season is still young, but there is plenty of figuring out yet to do.