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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Once again, the new top line (Beniers/Brisson/Johnson) was buzzing and creating. For the first period+ Penn State could not hang with them at all. As the game continued on, that line got a bit fancy at times. It’s probably something that you just deal with because when it works…look out. However, it can be frustrating to watch at times. Oskar Autio did enough to keep the same close enough to give Penn State a chance in the third.

-Thomas Bordeleau returned to the ice for the first time over a month. Putting him with an improving Dylan Duke and a popping Mackie Samoskevich makes a lot of sense. While it wasn’t Bordeleau’s best game of the year (shaking off rust and adjusting to linemates, etc), Samo started to shine a few times. Duke got to the front and fought on the board. This is a line to watch going forward.

-Jimmy Lambert didn’t play tonight. The bottom six didn’t do much offensively. They did grind a bunch and kill penalties. They also took a major (HA!) setback when Nolan Moyle was ejected early in the first period.

Defense Notes.

-Luke Hughes is fun…and good at hockey. He was all over the ice on Friday, creating chances and firing pucks on net. On another night, he scores plural goals. Luke tallied his goal after a nifty pass from Mackie Samoskevich. Both entered the zone on a 2v2 and Luke snuck behind both Lions when each went after a Samo puck fumble. Hughes just makes his finishes look so easy.

-Once again, Ethan Edwards was pretty good. He made a great diving play on the kill to stop an open opportunity. Edwards also perfectly timed a couple of offensive jumps getting two Grade A looks at Autio. He also played well defensively and was able to get back when he did take chances. Sooner or later, pucks will go in for him.

-Michigan started with Power and Truscott playing together, followed by Hughes and Blankenburg. Michigan stuck with those for a while and ended up putting Power and Blankenburg back together once the third period started to wobble. It was not Jack Summers best night. Keaton Pehrson skated again and ended up foiling a crazy almost rush for Penn State.

Matty Beniers sniped a pretty PPG (James Coller)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan got their first opportunity on a major (an iffy call after seeing a replay), and took advantage of it right away. Matty Beniers found a loose puck in the slot and scored it. Less than a minute later, KJ buried a puck near the post on a rebound. Up 3-0, Michigan had 4+ minutes to all but end the game…but they could not. Duke and Samo connected on a great chance right near the end of the major. On their second opportunity late in the game, the Wolverines were gifted a 5x3 when KJ was tripped early. They did a decent job of creating chances and Brisson hit the post. Michigan set up in an X formation with two guys below the goalline. That was very interesting. Alex and I will talk more about that on the HockeyCast next week.

Penalty Kill. What an awesome night for Michigan on the kill. During each of the minor penalties, Penn State could barely get into the zone with the puck…let alone create a decent chance. After Moyle’s major (correct call), the Wolverines had their best all around kill of the year. Three different defensemen (Truscott, Power, and Edwards) made great individual plays to save a Grade A chance. Erik Portillo made multiple saves, as well. Penn State was a little more dangerous on their fourth chance, but they still struggled to hit the net. The penalty kill is becoming a point of strength on this team.

Shut. Down. (James Coller)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo started in net and was his usual self. While he wasn’t consistently tested early, he made the necessary saves. In the second period, Michigan’s defense got a bit sloppy and gave up some better chances. Erik was equal to them all. While he gave up a poor rebound early, that was the last noticeable one. He also had a nice kill on the major, shutting down a few Lion chances. Erik’s finest moment probably came in the second period when he stoned a breakaway. Both of Penn State’s goals put him in a tough spot. A bad DZTO in the slot was followed by Tyler Paquette picking a corner. Just a few minutes later, Kevin Wall did the same on a 2v1. Portillo then shut the door down the stretch making a couple scramble saves in tight.

Clearly this did not go in (James Coller)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Lol. There were so many. Michigan beat Penn State back into their zone so many times…and could not even fire a shot! On eight chances, they registered four shots! Amazing. At some point, someone is going to have to score on a breakaway…right? It’s getting a bit absurd.

Michigan was pretty tight for most of the game, but then Jack Summers got caught up ice two different times and the Lions got a 1v0 and 2v1. Kevin Wall finished a great shot to capitalize on their 2v1.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Michigan was dominant for all but a 10-15 minute stretch of the third period. They created many golden chances and a bundle in transition…and finished almost none of them. Oskar Autio played well and gave PSU a chance. Michigan obliged and wobbled around for while, giving away a couple of great looks that the Lions finished. On another night, Michigan probably scores six or seven. That was not tonight. Hopefully, it is tomorrow night. 7:00PM on BTN-