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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Mel Pearson definitely jumbled his lines, tonight, breaking up Brendan Brisson and Thomas Bordeleau. He also split up Garrett Van Whye and Nolan Moyle, upon Moyle’s incision back into the lineup. Nick Granowicz also dressed as the extra skater…and it almost came back to bite him (not really though) after Keaton Pehrson’s return was cut short due a game misconduct penalty. More on that later…

-Brendan Brisson was given a gift goal after Liam Souliere fumbled the puck to him just out of the crease. Brisson did have a sweet backhand finish up high top open the scoring. His traditional linemate (yet, not tonight) also scored his first goal since the third period of the Minnesota State game. Bordeleau walked into the slot and picked a corner.

-Dylan Duke tallied another assist off of a deft pass to a charging Luke Hughes. It was a tricky dish through a defenseman. Dylan has really come along the last few games playing a role in a number of goals. His forecheck created another chance, tonight, too. Good things appear to be on the horizon for him.

-Overall, Penn State had more shots and chances, but Michigan definitely had better ones and they have the definitive skill to finish those chances. Penn State does not.

-Kent Johnson added FOUR more assists #EyeballEmoji. He now leads the country in scoring with 20 points in 12 games.

Defense Notes.

-LOL Luke Hughes. He had a couple of defensive gaffes, but holy fish is he exciting. I would like to see someone beat him in a race. He created an OMR goal and finished another one in the slot (it was a bit sawft). He’s just full-on excitement and skill.

-Owen Power is really starting to pop. He’s looked good in the defensive zone. There were multiple times were he made some impressive reach and body plays. At the other end, he cashed an easy garbage goal and contributed two more helpers on the Beniers and Bordeleau goals. Owen is up to 18 points on the season. That’s good for fourth in the country.

-Keaton Pehrson returned to the lineup and played a couple of shifts before getting ejected for a hit to the head. I’m sure there are more and better rules experts than me, but I just didn’t like the ejection call. Two minutes? Sure. It was a hit up high, but the Lion was going down before the hit that exaggerated the impact. Maybe it’s the right call, but it didn’t seem like Pehrson intended to hit the guy up high. He even raised his hands at other PSU players coming over to confront him, like he was only trying to check the guy, not take a shot at his head. Enlighten me in the comments, though, please.

Matty Beniers has seven goals in his last four games (David Wilcomes)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. For most of the game, Michigan got one whole power play (during the BTN- Blackout). Matty Beniers redirected a Kent Johnson pass to give Michigan a 3-1 lead. The Wolverines were given two more advantages really late in the game, but it didn’t really matter at that point.

Penalty Kill. Penn State had five power plays, including an all-you-can-eat five minute major. They got a couple of decent looks on that opportunity, but Luke Hughes had the best chance short-handed. The Lions were able to generate a lot of attempts on net, but they had plenty of time to do so. Michigan’s power play was pretty good, again, mostly keeping the House clean and giving Portillo a chance to see and save anything on net. The only exception was a breakdown after it looked like the Wolverines would get a clear and a short-handed chance. The puck was held in and the rebound was dunked after an great Portillo save. There were some itchy trigger skates at the end of a 5v3 kill, otherwise, they most likely keep Penn State out of the net.

Every game. Right there. Dependable. (David Wilcomes)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo started again and pretty much played the same game as he did on Thursday. PSU did get a high volume of shots, but what else is new? He didn’t have as many do-or-die saves…although he did still make a handful. His positional saves have become pretty routine, but he’s also made a handful of kick-out pad saves in the last couple of games. Right before PSU’s power play goal, he made a fantastic kick save. Unfortunately, the rebound was easily scored by an unchecked attacker. The first goal against Portillo took an unlucky bounce off of stick in front of him to an open Connor McMenamin. That was also a tap-in finish. Not much he could do on either of those. Game by game the sample size increases and so does Erik Portillo’s confidence.

Luke Hughes is about to go right by you (David Wilcomes)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Michigan gave up 3 OMRs in the second period…and they all pretty much amounted to nothing. Playing Penn State and Michigan being Michigan, there are going to be OMRs. These were pretty tame in the end. Portillo had to make a save on the 2v1. That was pretty much it.

Luke Hughes is an OMR waiting to happen. He jumped out on a breakaway on the five minute penalty kill, but shot the puck just wide. Later, he joined a 2v2 and received a sweet pass from Dylan Duke. Luke walked down the slot and picked a corner over Souliere. Luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuke.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This was again not the smoothest game for Michigan. They were in the box for most of the first period. Penn State did get more shots, but the Wolverines finishing ability is elite. They took their chances well and created enough. Erik Portillo has become extremely consistent in net, and he’s even making more outlandish shot-stopping saves. The Wolverines in-zone team defense looked pretty solid, again. After a crushing win on Thursday, Michigan backed it up with another stomping on Friday. Here we go…