OFFENSE

• Analysis: Mat Robson is a bad matchup for Michigan. He might be the best shot-stopping goalie in the Big Ten. It took a huge breakdown or special play to beat him all weekend. Michigan likes to throw a lot of pucks at the net and put goalies under pressure forcing rebounds and clearances. If Robson can see a puck, he’s going to stop it. Winborg scored because he got down low and whacked at the puck three times until it slid past Robson’s glove. Michigan needed to move the puck better in the slot and create good chances for picking great shots, but they were unable to do that. Lockwood and Mike Pastujov both had walk-in chances, but neither could convert. The Wolverines don’t have a lot of snipers on their team, unfortunately. Hopefully they’ll create a little better puck movement in open ice next year.

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DEFENSE

• Analysis: While the Wolverines were more disciplined in staying sound in transition, they were not very good in their own end. The first period was particularly poor, and after that, the game was all but out of reach. Michigan switched poorly, finished angles poorly, and closed out shooters even worse. All of these things have inconsistently plagued the Wolverines all year. The frustrating part is that it was not as much a question of if they were capable of doing those things well as it was how consistently they would. A number of times it looked like they excised poor defensive zone play from their game…only for those bad habits to creep back into way too many shifts. Better focus and a consistent defensive effort are the items at the top of the "must fix" list this summer.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Analysis: Michigan had two power plays on Saturday. They were not great on either. This is not new and has plagued them all year. Part of the issue was Norris going out, but they’ve also had a bunch of issues gaining control of the puck and setting up in the zone. Last year, they had Hughes, Calderone, and Marody and were still not great. The power play needs to be aggressively addressed in the off-season.

Michigan only took three penalties but gave up a goal on a cross-ice, wide-open one-timer. Somehow Raabe, who was playing the left point, ended up across the slot pinching next to Van Whye. While Michigan has struggled to get the puck out, they’ve also consistently lost in-zone assignments like that, leading to Grade A chances and eventually easy power play goals. The penalty kill also needs to be aggressively addressed in the off-season.

GOALTENDING

• Analysis: Strauss Mann started in net again and was very good. He probably could have potentially stopped the first or second goal but either save would be have been electric. The defense repeatedly put him in positions to make great saves, and he made a ton of them. While he hasn’t been great all year, he was all weekend.

ODD-MAN RUSHES

• Analysis: Michigan cleaned up their OMRs! Only one! Mann shut down the single breakaway he faced. Unfortunately, they didn’t play well in their own zone, despite being better in transitional play.

Michigan did not record an offensive OMR. Lockwood was the recipient of a bad DZTO and walked in alone but missed the open net after shaking Robson.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Michigan 46(16), Minnesota 39(19)

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Michigan 46, Minnesota 39