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

What just happened (TL;DR): LOL I DON’T KNOW. Michigan started the game a minute late and was down 2-0 before anyone even sat down. Yet another major penalty gave PSU a power play goal and a 3-0 lead halfway through the game. THEN LUKE HUGHES HAPPENED. He scored FOUR goals in about 15 minutes…including the game winner. Dylan Duke also had the game-tying goal in that stretch. Erik Portillo played well enough in the early going and down the stretch to finish the Wolverines epic Saturday night comeback. BONKERS

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-While they didn’t score, Michigan’s top line was very good. Adam Fantilli set up Luke Hughes’s fourth goal with just an unbelievable stick-handling show in and around several players. He’s just on another level. Gavin Brindley was awesome, again. His work in the corners and on the forecheck was very impressive. His potential and ceiling is becoming more and more visible.

-Honestly, after that top line, there were not many forwards that were very noticeable. Mackie Samoskevich missed his second straight game. When he plays, he drives that second line and Rutger McGroarty can also play alongside. The third and fourth lines treaded water, but didn’t offer very much offensively. Penn State’s depth overwhelmed Michigan too many times.

Defense Notes.

-Michigan started this game late. They gave up two goals in the first 44 seconds because their energy and focus was not anywhere near where Penn State’s was. Both goals resulted in guys just loafing back and not being assertive on the puck or the guys they were checking. Not dissimilar to the basketball team, one of the big flaws this team has is lack of concentration and effort/focus for stretches. When they have it…look out. When they don’t, they not only cannot get out of their zone, but they’re picking pucks out of the back of their net. It was 2-0 before the third shift…and it took them a while just to get back into the game and start skating their game again. Twenty shots in the first period. WOOF.

-LUKE HUGHES. I’ve ragged on him all year for his defense and defensive zone play. It’s mostly been warranted. However, he was on one of the craziest heaters I’ve ever seen in the second half of the game. He started the scoring with a shot from deep the went post and in. He one-timed a nice TJ Hughes look on the power play to get Michigan within 3-2 as the second period wound down. He did get lucky on his third goal as Liam Souliere leaked a shot between his legs, and it dribbled into the net. Then, because OF COURSE, Luke unleaded a BOMB from just outside the House  that beat Souliere far side to give Michigan the 5-4 lead. He took ELEVEN shots! This is his upside and ceiling. His skating and puck moving ability is off the charts. His shot is dangerous. Just clean up some sloppiness in his own zone and wowza. And to be honest, he’s mostly been better on defense in the last 10 games or so.

-Seamus Casey left the game in the third period very gingerly and did not return. Not good.

Luke was on fire (Bill Rapai)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan had a pretty great night on the power play, all things considered. They looked pretty dangerous on their first opportunity, despite not scoring. They moved the puck well and got dangerous chances. After having just an awful power play on their second, Adam Fantilli fired a puck into Souliere and he lost it into his net. However, that goal was waved off for a major penalty that happened half a minute before…after a review. #eyeroll On their third chance, Michigan moved the puck really, really well and got a few very dangerous looks before Luke Hughes buried his second goal of the night. Michigan was unlucky to not have plural PPGs on Saturday night.

Penalty Kill. Lol. Michigan could NOT get a clear on their first penalty kill, and Penn State held the zone for almost two minutes, generating seven shots on net. Yikes. Good thing Erik Portillo saved the day. Michigan then had to kill yet another five minute major. After giving up a goal on a 2v1, the penalty kill was pretty good for the rest of the major. Michigan had a major to kill because PSU challenged an Ethan Edwards hit (that was actually in the head) that was a good half minute after the hit actually happened. I’m not really sure where to go from here regarding these hits. Michigan has to do something about their actions, but it also seems like college hockey’s rules are broken.

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Once again, it was Erik Portillo in net for the Wolverines. It’s really difficult to correctly assess his game without a detailed rewatch. He sure had some highs and lows. I’m not sure he could have done a lot on the first two goals, as he was basically hung out to dry by the rest of the team on both. He was beaten five hole on the third…not great. The fourth goal was a 2v1, but he had a chance to cover the puck and didn’t. He kinda flopped around and never got back in position when the puck went in. Also, I don’t really understand it, but he keeps dropping his stick. He must have lost his stick 4-5 times throughout the game. However, despite all of the getting lost and losing his stick…he made quite a few plays and kept Michigan in the game -highlighted by his SEVEN save stretch on PSU’s first power play. He also was great down the stretch when he had to protect the lead. Maybe it all means nothing and the game was just bonkers.

Such a Duke goal (Bill Rapai)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Michigan gave up way too many OMRs, plain and simple. It bit them twice. The first time Danny Dzhaniyev beat Portillo five hole on a 2v1 on a power play. The second was a belated rush goal. After the initial 2v1, the puck jumbled into the crease. Portillo tried to cover it, but couldn’t grab it. Ture Linden scooped up the rebound and batted it into the net. Honestly…the Lions had a 2v1 early on and the pass across went through the legs of the open attacker. That looked like a sure goal from my angle. None of this even mentions the failed breakaway for Penn State, either. Michigan has been better in this department of late. They were pretty bad on Saturday night.

Michigan created two breakaways on Saturday. Nolan Moyle came in alone and rang one off the inside of the post. Unlucky. Dylan Duke received an amazing stretch pass from Luca Fantilli, held off a defenseman, and beat Liam Souliere as he was falling down…to tie the game at 4, midway through the third.

WHO’S HAVING A GOOD TIME?!?!? (Bill Rapai)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hoo boy! Michigan recorded a sweep for the first time since mid-October. And it came against a solid Top 3 PWR team! There is an argument that Michigan should have won neither game…but they won both! They were definitely outplayed in the first half of Saturday’s game, but after that major was killed, their anger/frustration fueled not only a comeback, but a dominating half-game performance. Now, they’re right in the hunt for the #2 seed in the Big Ten. They also jumped Penn State and are up to #5 in PWR. What a weekend. Next weekend: Friday and Saturday vs Wisconsin. Both game on BTN+ at 7pm.