OFFENSE

Analysis: Lots of shots. Great shots? Enough, yes. Goals? I guess they had three while at even strength. So, that’s good. However, the story is the same. Michigan generally gets good, not great shots for average, not great shooters. I think one of the bigger takeaways from all of this is the coaching job Pearson has done. He’s instilled a possession-dominant system and given his hard-working forwards chances to succeed by getting a ton of pucks to the net. Good goaltending, not enough puck luck, and less-than-elite goal-scoring talent are all obstacles that the Wolverines come close to overcoming, but keep coming up just short. They’re doing the right things. That is the positive. Let’s end on that.

DEFENSE

Analysis: Once again, inconsistency. Michigan was overwhelmed and outskated to start and got blitzed. They then kept their House clean for a long stretch. They got outworked to start the third and paid for it. The last goal was a tough, gritty goal that will happen sometimes. We’ve seen Michigan dominate on the defensive end against almost all of the Big Ten teams so far. They’ve also gotten extremely lax. The talent is there. Sometimes, the organization and desire is not.

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Sometimes you just gotta truck someone [Rapai]

SPECIAL TEAMS

Analysis: Michigan gave up one power play and shut it down. Their penalty kill has looked better and better lately, but not having to use it at all is definitely the way to go.

The Wolverines had six man-advantages and created a lot of looks at the net. Look at the numbers. They threw 25 pucks at the net and averaged about a shot per minute. That’s not bad, but nothing went in. I feel like I keep typing this?

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He’s the Mann [Rapai]

GOALTENDING

Analysis: Strauss Mann started in net again and played very well. I don’t think any of the goals can be placed on him. Minnesota had a 3v1 goal; an unchecked attacker in the slot after Mann made a tremendous first save; the game-tier on which he made a few previous saves and was all but abandoned in the crease; and the low-slot tipped shot for the game-winner. I hope he continues to stay in net because he’s looked consistent and made big saves…just not all of the impossible ones. Which, come on. Frustrating for him because he plays well enough to win a lot of games.

ODD-MAN RUSHES

Analysis: Michigan gave up four OMRs tonight. Like last night, this is way too many. It burned them right away as the Gophers got a 3v1 and converted. The other OMRs generated a whiff, a breakaway save, and a shot that missed the net. The consistency of defensive awareness is alarming.

Michigan also generated six (!) OMRs. Nolan Moyle made a nice play in the zone to shield away a defender and led Nick Pasta on a breakaway that he finished. Hooray. They had numerous 2v1s that didn’t become dangerous. Warren also had a break that he was denied on by Robson. Like the rest of the offense, the lack of elite scoring showed up in the phase as well.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Michigan 71(26), Minnesota 45(19)

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Michigan 70, Minnesota 46