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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Michigan was playing without their World Junior contingent, tonight (Kent Johnson, Matty Beniers, Mackie Samoskevich), and it looked like it. While, the Wolverines were mostly sound with the puck, there was little play-making in the offensive zone. That was mostly to be expected, though.

-This was a great game for Johnny Beecher to take over and carry the Wolverines. He has had his moments in their first half, scoring a couple of impressive goals, and creating off of the rush. He did get two really great chances on breakaways on the penalty kill. Unfortunately, he could not finish either. He also got a good look from the House in the third that went just wide.

-I was saving this note for the goal-scorer…maybe for either team. Just a goal. But none came. This is the first time I’ve been in attendance for a 0-0 tie.

Defense Notes.

-Michigan defensive unit was without their two stars in Owen Power and Luke Hughes. Steve Holtz’s injury also kept him out of Wednesday’s game. Jake Gingell got his first minutes of the season. Jack Summers and Keaton Pehrson also dressed for the Wolverines. Jay Keranen was needed at forward!

-I found myself saying “That’s a nice play from Edwards” about four or five times, tonight. Defensively, I would guess he had the best game of his career. Unfortunately, in overtime, he made one horrendous turnover in the offensive zone that lead to a kinda breakaway, Lambert penalty, and penalty shot. Still, I would say this was a very encouraging game from Ethan Edwards. I look for him to have a good second half.

-Overall, Michigan made a strong commitment to playing well in their own zone. And they did. Forwards backchecked all night. Every defenseman on the ice made good plays in the defensive zone. No one was very loose with the puck or tried to force passes. If Michigan can get this kind of effort in the second half, the “Ceiling is the Roof.”

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. It’s tough to rate Michigan’s power play because over half of their top two lines were not skating. They did create a nice chance off of a new wrinkle when Brendan Brisson passed on a shot and dropped the puck to the goal line. Nick Blankenburg hit Duke on a great cross-crease pass, but Dylan couldn’t put it away. Michigan mustered little else on the man advantage all evening. 

Penalty Kill. Michigan Tech hit the bar early in their first power play chance. Erik Portillo followed that up with a nice save. Other than that, though, Michigan arguably had the better chances, despite being down a man. They barely let Tech set up at all on their second opportunity. Johnny Beecher also had to golden rushes the other way. The Huskies came into the game with a top 5 power play unit, converting at 26.5%. Pretty solid job.

Erik Portillo banked his second Swedish Shutout (James Coller)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo started in net. Surprise. He struggled with his rebounds throughout the night. While they weren’t egregious (he was usually able to poke them away or guide them to a teammate), it seemed like he just couldn’t get anything to stick to him. He did not have any wandering adventures…this was not the time for him to go try to make a play. He also made a handful of big saves from close range to keep Michigan even for most of the game. Going into overtime, Portillo also made a couple of nice poke-checks to defuse dangerous chances AND he stoned Justin Misiak on a penalty shot to preserve the tie.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. One time, Jack Summers pinched in a harmless-looking play, but he could not get back in time and Erik Portillo made a great shoulder save on Trento Bliss’s breakaway attempt.

Johnny Beecher created two breakaways while on the penalty kill. One time he tried to go five-hole and was stopped. The second time Blake Pietila got his blocker on Johnny’s chance. Dylan Duke lead a 2v1 late in the third with a a chance to win the game, but he rang the outside of the near post. The frustrating part is that in a game where great looks were almost non-existent, Michigan could not cash on any of their three wide open looks in transition.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Honestly, I don’t have a lot of takeaways from this game. Michigan didn’t have seven of their best players. They played a potential tournament team to a 0-0 draw. They also had three great chances to score, but could not. I’m happy with the defensive effort and the in-zone protection of Portillo. I guess that’s the main thing to bank for the future.