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

 

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan just dominated 56 minutes of a hockey game against Providence, leading 5-1. Then they absolutely checked out and almost blew a four goal lead in 3+ minutes. Garrett Schifsky blocked a shot from the House as time ran out to preserve a 5-4 win. Frank Nazar scored a couple of goals; Rutger McGroarty added a goal and three assists; Seamus Casey had a goal and an assist; Jake Barczewski played really well in his Maize and Blue debut. Michigan somehow survived after mailing in the last few minutes. Yikes.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

	Total Attempts	Even Strength	Power Play	Close (within 1)	Even Strength %
Providence	46	38	8	5	34%
Michigan	99	75	24	13	66%

Forward Notes.

-Michigan dominated the game and the puck, especially after the first period. Despite giving up a couple early goals, the Friars hung tight for the first 20 minutes. After that, the Wolverines owned the puck, chances, opportunities, and storylines…until they basically quite skating with a few minutes left in the game.

-The Wolverines stars shone brightly. Rutger, Nazar, Brindley all tallied goals. TJ Hughes and Rutger also had plural assists. The lines will still need some tweaking, but individual players are starting to pop.

-Josh Eernisse looks like great fit. While he didn’t find the scoresheet (he did on Saturday, though), he did a lot of little things. He’s was great in the corners, screened the net-front, drew a penalty in the crease, and rotated back really well several times as defensemen pinched forward. Again, I’m not sure how best the lines will fit, but Eernisse should be a great add to whomever he skates alongside.

-Philippe Lapointe had a very nice couple of periods, on Sunday, as well. His forecheck was great, forcing multiple DZTOs, holding the puck and getting it to teammates to keep the zone. He had a nice backcheck that did end in a penalty, but Peter and I debated it, and Peter didn’t mind it because he hustled back and defended the slot. Fair point. Michigan gave him an ‘A’, and it looks like he could carve out a nice role as a 4th-liner.

 

Casey Coast to Coast (Bill Rapai)

Defense Notes.

-I thought Michigan’s defense was tremendous. They broke the zone well, held their position in transition, and mostly kept their slot and net-front clear of chances…for 56 minutes. In the last 3+ minutes, everything seemed to go to hell and breakdowns were aplenty. So…what do we take from that? I think a lot. They stoned the Friars for basically a whole game…so they’re capable of doing that. Even the third pair looked fine and didn’t have many in-zone breakdowns. Then…for whatever reason, someone flipped the switch and all of the old habits came rushing back, almost negating everything they did so well for 56 minutes.

-Tyler Duke tallied his first couple of assists of the year. He also looked great, playing much larger than his size, especially in physical areas. Unfortunately, he left the game late in the third with what appeared to be some sort of ankle injury. A backend injury is the last thing this team needs. Stay tuned.

-Seamus Casey looked like he was still in Tampa, going coast to coast and lifting a backhand over Philip Svedeback, building Michigan’s lead to two goals just 3:11 into the game. He also added and assist on Rutger’s power play goal. This could be a huge year for Seamus. It also may have to be.

 

 

 

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

	PP Opportunities	PP Corsi For	PP Shots/Minute
Providence	2/4	8	6/6
Michigan	2/6	24	(12/11)

Power Play. After the first couple of power plays, Michigan got things going due to a couple of 5x3s. TJ Hughes hit a nice cross-ice pass to Rutger McGroarty who finished a one-timer from the dot. With around five minutes to play, Providence took another couple of concurrent penalties and Frank Nazar made them pay with a shot from inside the dot. As the game went along, Michigan’s power play got better and better. They had good zone time, puck movement, and opportunities. In the end, they finished just enough of them.

Penalty Kill. Michigan had about six minutes of penalties to kill on Sunday afternoon. They looked great through the first five and a half until Hudson Malinoski got loose alone in the slot and picked a corner. Liam Valente was left alone in the slot six seconds into the last power play, and buried his wide open look to make it 5-3. Michigan’s PK was awesome…until it wasn’t. There were a lot of good things done…and then a couple of real gaffes. Consistency will be an emphasis going forward, for sure.

 

 

Don’t let the final three minutes fool you, Jake was great (Bill Rapai)

GOALTENDING CHART

	Michigan Shots Faced (House)	Providence Shots Faced (House)
First Period	7	7
Second Period	8	17
Third Period	11	16
Overtime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	26 (16)	40 (31)

Notes. Jake Barczewski made his first start in net for Michigan on Sunday. While he wasn’t supremely tested for much of the game, he definitely looked like he belongs. Jake made a couple of very nice high glove saves on the power play early in the first period, eliminating the Friars best scoring chances. He also made a couple of good stops on open looks from the high slot. He did, however, give up a couple of rebounds early on, but not much at all after that. Hudson Malinoski got free in the slot and beat him by picking a corner on the power play. There was nothing Barczewski was going to do with that, though. With 3:17 left, Jake’s team just completely stopped playing in front of him, allowing a breakaway, a wide open look from the slot (PP), and a total abandonment of an attacker in the slot. All three resulted in goals that should not be credited to Jake Barczewski. Alas. Hockey remains a crazy game.

In totality, I think Jake played really well. For me, it’s hard to pin anything on him. The last few minutes…honestly, it just looked like he had to make Hero saves, and he didn’t. Okay.

 

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	2v1	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	2v1	0%

Notes. I wasn’t at the game on Saturday night, so I didn’t get an official count of OMRs, but I know I saw a few over the course of the game, including on giving up a goal. On Sunday, they did not give up an OMR until the last few minutes of the game when Jaroslav Chmelar finished a breakaway to make it 5-2…at the time. Much better…I guess?

Michigan generated an OMR…on the penalty kill. Warren and Nazar came in on a 2v1, but the chance was denied. I’m always a bit skeptical of PK OMRs. You just can’t get caught out and give up a 4v2 the other way.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hoo boy. 56 minutes of this game looked like last year. The final four minutes also looked like last year to a degree. I’m choosing to see the positives and focus on the domination Michigan inflicted of the Friars for most of the game. Clearly, they need to finish strong, keep their foot on the gas, and stay checked in mentally. At least there are still things to work on in practice. I hope the final few minutes don’t put a damper on a really nice performance from Jake Barczewski. I’m not sure who I’m expecting to save any of the four A+ looks that resulted in goals. Michigan travels to Amherst, MA to play UMass next Friday and Saturday. Games should be available on ESPN+ at 7pm.