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

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan Hockey rocked the Stonehill Stones. They scored early and often and gave up plural power play goals. Not the best third period, but the first two were pretty good. In other words, it went just as expected.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-The most important note of the evening is that Rutger McGroarty and Mark Estapa dressed and did not appear to get hurt on Friday. That is the biggest news of the night for Michigan.

-Tanner Rowe scores his first collegiate goal for Michigan on a nice play off of a faceoff win by Kienan Draper. These games can be big for the Bottom Six to get organized and get confident. Chase Pletzke also scored for break his long goal-less streak. So did Kienan Draper. Unfortunately, the Assist Watch for Pletzke is still going.

-Gavin Brindley scored four goals. LOL.

-These games are tough for everyone. It’s hard to stay up and in a game when it’s 10-1 after the second period. However, learning how to do that might be the difference in bigger games down the stretch. They should have another chance tomorrow night.

Defense Notes.

-Ethan Edwards dressed for Michigan for the first time in a non-exhibition game this season. It was rumored to happening, but it was nice to see him back and on the ice.

-After a strong couple periods to start, the third period got a bit shaky…especially for a team that has had it’s issues in the third period closing games out. They allowed eleven shots, four from the House, in the first two periods. In the third: eight shots, seven from the slot. The game was completely out of hand and not in doubt, but at some point, this Finishing Games thing has got to be addressed.

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. After a marginal first Wolverine power play, Nick Moldenhauer came down the wall and dished to an open Frank Nazar who potted his second goal of the night. Not a very busy night for the Wolverines on the power play.

Penalty Kill. I guess some things don’t change. Eight seconds into their first penalty kill of the evening, Dean Schwenninger rocks a shot from the point over Jake Barczewski and under the bar to tie the game. It was a rocket…but also another goal against on the penalty kill.  Nineteen seconds into the third, Jake LaRusso finds himself wide open in the slot for the Rocks second power play goal of the night. This was a bugaboo for the Wolverines all first half of the season. So far, it isn’t starting a whole lot better.

I do like these uniforms (Bill Rapai)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Jacob Barczewski started in net on Friday night. He made a very nice save on a 2v1 rush. Honestly, he did not have a lot to do…at least until the third period. The defense started throwing the puck around the defensive zone with wild abandon and hung Barzo out to dry a few times. He did make a lunging pad save at the post. We’ll see what Naurato does, but I would not be surprised to see Noah West for at least part of the game on Saturday.
 

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. There is not going to be an Odd Man Rush section tonight.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The truth is that it is just very difficult to measure much from games like these. It’s good to see the WJC crew gets their legs under them, again. It’s really good to see all three injured fellows back in uniform. TJ Hughes took a bad hit into an open door on the Stones bench…but came back. That would have been the worst. It’s good for the team to get on the ice together and get back to game speed. No one appeared to get hurt. Do that again tomorrow night, and it’s alright, I guess. Going to need to do some work on the penalty kill and finishing games strong, though.

**NO BREAKDOWN TOMORROW NIGHT**