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

What just happened (TL;DR): The Wolverines hold three separate one goal leads, relinquishing them all…before the third period. Aiden Fink fills a hat trick for Penn State, including an empty netter at the end to seal the game against the under-manned Wolverines.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Despite the numbers evening out across the board, it always felt like Michigan was just hanging on in this one. They converted chances at even strength (!) but just could not get over the top. Penn State mostly lead in shots and House shots all evening. It never felt like this game was going to be about even strength goals for Michigan…despite them getting three. That seems like it should have been enough…if they could do damage on the power play or in transition (which, I guess they did). In the end, it wasn’t enough.

-Garrett Schifsky scored his seventh goal of the year, thanks to the boards and a kick-in by Lion goalie Liam Souliere. Nick Moldenhauer tipped in Seamus Casey’s shot from the point. TJ Hughes also buried his 3v2 chance from the House.

-Chase Pletzke maybe had his best game as a Wolverine. He rang the iron in transition and got into dangerous positions a few times with the puck. It’s a bummer his shot bounced out. It would have been a great time for his first point at Yost.

-They seemed to skate three lines: Dylan/Brindley/TJ Hughes; Nazar/Schifsky/Eernisse; Draper/Lapointe/Pletzke. Then they sprinkled in Moldenhauer and Rowe. By the third period, they seemed to tire and just not have the jump they had especially during the early second period. They jumbling of lines also seemed to get guys out of place at times…but they’re just limited with options right now. Josh Orrico and Brendan Miles both dressed and were listed as forwards, but I did not see either on the ice.

Defense Notes.

-Overall, the defense seemed to start strong…and then fade as the game continued. The second period was the crescendo, as Penn State started piling chances in the Wolverine zone. It leveled in the third as Penn State did not need another goal, but as the healthiest unit on the team…it just needed to be better on Saturday night as a whole.

-While he’s had better nights in Maize and Blue, this was not the best I’ve seen Jacob Truscott play. He fell asleep letting Aiden Fink get behind him for a walk-in chance to tie the game at two. He also had several giveaways in his own zone. There will be better nights, but tonight was not one of them.

-Seamus Casey again poured in a couple of assists. He has 14 points in 20 games (Lindenwood included).

-With so many forwards out, Michigan needed to win this game 2-1 or 3-2. They had both of those leads, but they could not hold them.

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. For the most part, Michigan had good power plays all evening. They created chances –from dangerous places- and had plenty of zone time. They just couldn’t finish the goal. Liam Souliere’s best play came on the penalty kill in net for Penn State. He made a number of high danger saves. Michigan had a chance early to double their lead with their lethal power play. They also had a great chance in the third to tie the game. On a night when they needed some scoring in the margins, they just could not get one on the man advantage.

Penalty Kill. The Wolverines were in a great penalty kill, almost through the two minutes when they lost Aiden Fink behind the net. Matt DiMarsico found him for an easy backdoor tap-in. Same old bugaboo. After that, Michigan killed a couple of chances –Jake Barczewski did well to finish one. However, the damage was done for the evening…again. It just gets really difficult to overcome a man advantage goal seemingly every game.

Uh-oh! (Bill Rapai)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Jake Barczewski started in net, again, on Saturday night. He was okay. He started really well allowing just one goal (PP) in the first half of the game. He made good saves: positional, glove, pad. Then, Michigan’s defense broke down a bit, and he couldn’t save them. Is that his fault? Eh. Not really, but being down a bunch of guys…people need to make extra plays and tonight, Barczewski couldn’t save the Not Really Breakaway by Aiden Fink. It was a nice move. He also probably wants the third goal back, as it came from a sharp angle below the dot. Jake looked to be in good position, but perhaps he was screened. The fourth goal took a deflection in the middle of the ice and just popped up and over him. While it was a bit unlucky, he did seem a bit off balance. Again, it’s tough to pin many of these on him directly, but Saturday night, Michigan just needed a little bit more from everyone.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Penn State got a 4v2 rush early, but the shot sailed wide. After that, Michigan did a great job in transition, and did not allow any real rush chances.

The Wolverines were dangerous in transition on Saturday. Dylan Duke hit TJ Hughes on a 3v2, and TJ curled into the House are fired, giving Michigan a 2-1 lead. Chase Pletzke almost got on the board on a 3v2, but his attempt drew iron. Luca Fantilli sprung Frank Nazar on a breakaway. Nazar was pulled down which gave the Wolverines a power play…that they did not convert. In a game where they were down significant players, Michigan got chances in unique ways, but just could not finish them.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Michigan still has a series in St Cloud next weekend, followed by a trip to South Bend. I’d be hard pressed to see Rutger McGroarty or Mark Estapa coming back in the next couple of weeks. It looks like this is who they have for the next four games. The defense and goaltending are going to have to turn in great performances. They got solid even strength goal scoring tonight, but could not capitalize on it. They have two more chances next weekend in St Cloud, Minnesota. Friday night’s game is at 8:30 PM EST.