OFFENSE

Analysis: Michigan started on fire and dominated the first period. Hughes hit the bar and it stayed out. Van Whye was in alone and missed the net. Michigan did convert on a 2v1, but other that Nappier kept them at bay. As the game progressed, the Wolverines faded in volume, but still got good chances. Moyle finally tied the game late on a creative centering bank from behind the net after Nappier got caught out of his crease, and his defenseman had poorly angled skates. Essentially, Michigan created enough chances to get a few goals, but only finished two. Deja vu.

DEFENSE

Analysis: Michigan’s even-strength defense was mostly good, again, until it got a bit leaky in the third when they couldn’t get a clear for an extended period, and OSU started piling up chances in the House. The only even-strength goal was a miss by Mann on a seemingly harmless shot from straight away at the top of the House. The Wolverines did give up a lot at the end, but they mostly played Ohio State to a draw at even strength. In the end, the defense did well enough to win tonight…if only we didn’t have to talk about the next section.

CRUNCH. This probably lead to one of Michigan’s frustrating power play chances [James Coller]

SPECIAL TEAMS

Analysis: I really don’t want to talk about Michigan’s power play. One-for-five isn’t terrible, but they were given two three-minute major power plays and came up with nothing. Just like the second game in Minneapolis (where Michigan had a 5v3 for three minutes and other 5v4 chances), Michigan had their opponent at their mercy for extended periods of a man advantage with a chance to not only win the game but give themselves a great chance to not leave Yost in the Big Ten Tournament until the Final. They got nothing, however, and didn’t look overly threatening at all. Cecconi did bury a shot after Nick Pastujov fired a shot across the crease. Joe caught it and buried it. After that chance, I don’t remember a Grade A look on the power play. It’s been poor all winter and it’s catching up with them too often.

Michigan was also inconsistent on the penalty kill. They had to erase a five minute major and looked great until the very end, when poor clearances resulted in an open shooter in the slot. Michigan also was slow in rotations on their next penalty kill and it resulted in Ohio State’s second goal. After that, Michigan shut the Buckeyes down, but it was too late. Michigan cannot lose the special teams battles and come out on top very often. Tonight was the perfect example.

GOALTENDING

Analysis: Strauss Mann got the start in net again on Saturday night. He was uneven. OSU’s second goal was a harmless shot from straight away, and Mann just didn’t pick it up. Was it tipped or knuckling? Maybe? Either way, that can’t go in. He also lost track of the puck a few times around his crease. Again, there’s traffic and deflections, but there were a couple times that he looked lost and way out of position. On the positive side, he did make a number of bail-out saves. He’s similar to Lavigne in that when the defense plays to his strengths, he looks very good. However, he’s far from a finished product and is prone to inconsistencies mentally and physically. My guess is it will Lavigne to start in Madison next Friday.

Blankenburg is really on his way to becoming a Dude [James Coller]

ODD-MAN RUSHES

Analysis: Michigan cleaned up their OMRs tonight. The lone exception was a breakaway for Jobst late in the 3rd period. Lockwood hustled and tracked him down, annoying him enough to allow Mann to make the save. Jobst also had a breakaway in the 3v3 2OT to get the extra point, but I don’t track those because there would be like 50. Also, it was on the other end of 2v1 for Michigan when Jobst came out of the box.

Michigan also generated a couple of OMRs. Blankenburg had a fantastic play to clear the puck to Lockwood and followed the play out of the zone, resulting in a 2v1. Lockwood got him the puck and he adjusted well to it, getting the shot on net and beating Nappier. Nick Blankenburg is really growing a lot in the second half of this season.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Ohio State 55, Michigan 52

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Michigan 52, Ohio State 51