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

What just happened (TL;DR): Ohio State out-schemed, out-worked, and out-skated Michigan from beginning to end. Ohio State scored plural power play goal, a short-handed goal, and plural even strength goals. The Buckeyes were better in every facet across the board, up and down the lineup. Michigan hadn’t played a competitive game in over a month and it showed.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Michigan’s forwards never really got into the game because they never really got the puck, especially outside of their own zone. OSU just pinned them down and sat on them…sometimes literally. Halfway through the game, the Wolverines had nine shots on net and several of those were on the power play. Yikes.

-Dylan Duke was one player who came to play. He scored a deflection on the power play, and he slammed in a rebound right in front of the net to get Michigan back within three. Other than that, I’m not sure there are any real positive notes on Maize and Blue forwards.

Defense Notes.

-Ohio State’s forwards forechecked Michigan into oblivion. After getting a couple of power plays in the first period, it looked like Michigan was started to even the ice, but as soon as the second period started, it was just an avalanche of attempts on net. Michigan’s defensemen love to skate the puck up the ice and out of the zone and Ohio State just pressured them, bodied them, and turned them over…lather, rinse, repeat.

-Luke Hughes took a hilarious diving penalty in the third period after he was whacked on the hands three times with no call. Hughes just went limp and flew forward through the neutral zone and was immediately called. It was totally a dive. It was also probably a slash…maybe a couple. I’m not sure what you do there if you let one go, though. I can’t say I’ve ever seen something like that in a hockey game.

This is a rebound tap-in (Bill Rapai)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan’s power plays started well, looking dangerous in their first opportunity. Dylan Duke redirected a TJ Hughes shot on their second to give Michigan a 1-0 lead (LOL). As the game was slipping away, the Wolverines caught a break, receiving a five minute major power play. Within seven seconds, though, they give up a 2v1 and a short-handed goal. Not that they were probably going to come back and win, but get a couple goals on an All You Can Eat, and who knows. Instead, it’s now 6-2 before the second period ends. They did do an interesting thing, using two guys in the slingshot for a zone entry.

Penalty Kill. WOOF. Ohio State scored on four of their first five power plays. Yikes. All four shots were really wide open. Travis Treloar had a rebound tap-in and a clean look from the slot. Jake Wise had an open look from the top of the House. Stephen Halliday scored on a 2v0 breakaway. This is a hit the reset button for Michigan on their penalty kill. I don’t think there are many (any?) positives to take away from Friday’s effort. They also gave Ohio State EIGHT power plays. That is very inadvisable.

This could be any number of goals (Bill Rapai)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. This was quite and eventful game for Erik Portillo. He faced 39 shots in the first half of the game. LOL. In the end he surrendered seven goals on 52 shots. I’m not sure any of the goals are on him, but that is still quite a number to give up.  He did keep Michigan in the game for the first half of the game despite getting absolutely peppered with shots. In the end, it was just too much. He was never pulled, so it will be interesting if he starts on Saturday, as well, given that the game was pretty much over by the end of the second period.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Like every other area of the game, Michigan was worked over in transition, as well. Ohio State got multiple 2v1s and finally cashed one short-handed. That was a back-breaker. The Wolverines were still within reach, just starting a five minute power play, and they give up a OMR shortie in seven seconds. OSU also tallied a 2v0 power play goal later in the third. The Buckeyes just dominated the Wolverines in transition.

Michigan did create a few chances, but Jakob Dobes made two outstanding saves, getting across on both 2v1s. Adam Fantilli missed the net on a great look from the slot very early in the game.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Michigan was manhandled on Friday evening. There is no way around that. The question is…how do they respond on Saturday? They cannot take the same approach in their own zone and expect anything different. Were they just rusty and not in sync because they hadn’t played in over 30 days? Maybe. However, Ohio State just out-hustled and out-skated them. That will need to change tomorrow at the very least. Now, we’ll see what kind of adjustments Brandon Naurato will make. Saturday, 4:30 PM. Actual Big Ten Network!