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

 

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

	Total Attempts	Even Strength	Power Play	Close (within 1)	Even Strength %
Notre Dame	69	66	3	48	55%
Michigan	55	54	1	42	45%

Forward Notes.

-Once again, Notre Dame mostly dictated the pace and style of the game. Michigan did get a few good looks, but most were B+ instead of A-level chances. While the Wolverines did get many of them, most were pretty savable…especially for a stalwart like Ryan Bischel. He had a very nice game. His defense also was very sound and structed all night. They really didn’t give up anything in-zone.

-Matty Beniers changed the game with an NHL coast to coast skate the wound through almost every Notre Dame skater on the ice. He did run out of room/gas at the end, but he moved Bischel enough that Brendan Brisson was able to dunk the rebound. While, the Beniers/Brisson/KJ line was not dominant all night, they had their moments –like this one- that put Michigan in a good chance to win.

-The Morgan/Duke/Lambert line was maybe Michigan’s best all night. Alex texted me a number of points regarding that, but their style just fit the game perfectly. Their forechecking forced a number of DZTOs and created chances. Jimmy Lambert did hit the post early in the game. Luke Morgan is great along the boards and is just relentless. They created a number of chances, but didn’t get any into the net. It will be interesting to watch them again tomorrow, as long as they stay together.

Defense Notes.

-For two periods, Michigan played mostly good in-zone defense. There were some DZTOs and bad clears, but it’s difficult to go 40 minutes without doing anything wrong. In the last 20 minutes, though, Michigan hemorrhaged chances all around. It was not just on the defensemen but the forwards, as well. They put Erik Portillo is dangerous spot after dangerous spot. He saved many and others were shot wide. Eventually, their poor puck management came back to bite them. At times, they get too cute and try to make the perfect pass or the showy play when the fundamental chip or dump will serve better. Notre Dame took advantage of that tonight.

-Let’s talk about Steve Holtz. That was a roller-coaster game. He spent several shift unable to get the puck out of his zone or to a teammate. Then, he single-handedly erases a potential breakaway. Then, he can’t clear the net-front and turns it over to opponents at the point. Finally, he makes great stick plays to save multiple entries. I’m not sure. I know Michigan is searching for their consistent third pair, but I’m not sure it should include Holtz. He’ll get more chances, for sure, but against this level of competition, he seemed a bit out of depth.

-Nick Blankenburg made his return, tonight. He did get back on the power play, but mostly remained on the third paid with Jack Summers or Ethan Edwards. It looked like Michigan was trying to get all three of their best defensemen on different pairs. There is definitely an argument for that; however, I’m more inclined to try to get your best three (maybe also Truscott as a 4th) on the ice as much as possible and roll five guys (if you don’t trust many more). Power, Blankenburg, Hughes, Truscott, then Edwards/Pehrson…but be selective with ice time. Just a thought.

 

Matty Beniers has been playing like the number two overall pick in the draft (James Coller)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

	PP Opportunities	PP Corsi For	PP Shots/Minute
Notre Dame	1/3	3	.6(3/5)
Michigan	1/1	1	.5(1/2)

Power Play. Michigan gets one power and one attempt on net and one shot. Matty Beniers made it count, though. He sniped the inside of the post from the BrissonDot after NHL-esque passes from Owen Power and Brendan Brisson to feed him. My guess is that the Wolverines would have liked a few more man advantages tonight.

 

Penalty Kill. Notre Dame had two advantages in the second period and tallied one shot on net. While Portillo did leak a rebound, Luke Hughes swept it away, and that was basically it for both of those power plays. Michigan did a great job on the kill, tonight. In overtime(remember, it is 3v3, so power plays are then 4v3), Garrett Van Wyhe took a game misconduct with two minutes to go. One the first Irish chance, Ryder Rolston beat Erik Portillo from the left dot. Good shot. 4v3s are very dangerous and teams should score on them. The best thing to do is not give those away.

 

 

Erik Portillo made plenty of big saves, but there were just too many good chances (James Coller)

GOALTENDING CHART

	Michigan Shots Faced (House)	Notre Dame Shots Faced (House)
First Period	9(6)	14(5)
Second Period	12(5)	10(5)
Third Period	17(7)	6(4)
Overtime	3(2)	0(0, obviously)
TOTAL	39(20)	30(14)

Notes. Erik Portillo started in net and played very, very well again. This time, he showed off his glove skills, snaring a myriad of high-rising chances with his leather. Previously, Portillo looked strong positionally –and last week made a number of athletic kick saves- but Friday night, he did a great job taking away the top half of the net with his glove. While the defense collapsed around him, Portillo did his best to hold the fort for as long as he could. Eventually, the Irish chances just got better and better and he ran out of sandbags. Hunter Strand was alone in the crease for an open-net tap-in for the first goal. Ryder Rolston poked home the tying goal in a scrum. Rolston doubled down with a one-timer from the left dot on a 4v3 power play for the winner. I didn’t see a whole lot he could have done better on any of those chances.

 

 

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Defense	Rushes	Advs	Escape%	Offense	Rushes	Advs	Scoring%
1st Period	1	1v0	100%		n/a	n/a	n/a
2nd Period	2	1v0, 2v1	100%		n/a	n/a	n/a
3rd Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		1	3v2	0%
OT	3	v	3		3	v	3
Total	3	1v0 x2; 2v1	100%		1	3v2	0%

Notes. Michigan somehow gives up two breakaway and a 2v1 and doesn’t give up a goal. Matty Beniers backchecking helped out on the 2v1, but the other two attempts on the breakaways both drifted wide. The Wolverines were definitely a bit lucky in transition. It could have been much worse.

Michigan created one 3v2 and found Bischel’s chest. They moved the puck well and got the open look, but Ryan Bischel was right where he should have been.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This one feels bad because playing Notre Dame is annoying. They play sound defense, get above-average goaltending, don’t give anything away, and take advantage of your mistakes. If you play your best game, you best them…most every time. If you don’t, it’s a coin-flip, and they make you pay. Michigan had a two goal lead in the third and gave it away. They sold out their goaltender and managed the puck very poorly. Michigan just out-skilled poorer teams the last couple weeks. Tonight, they had the Irish on the ropes and got sloppy. Notre Dame outworked them in the third and punished their lack of discipline. I feel like I’ve seen this movie too many times. Tomorrow is a new day, though.