OFFENSE

• Analysis: Once again, Michigan put in a fine effort in the attacking end. It was not at the level of last night’s game, but probably good enough to get a better result than they got. Nappier matched everything the Wolverines manufactured. Becker redirected a Lambert shot on net for Michigan’s only tally. Given how much time was spent on special teams, especially in the second period, these numbers are acceptable.

DEFENSE

• Analysis: This is a confusing bit. From a straight numerical view, Michigan was very good. Posting these results will generally yield positive results. However--SPOILER ALERT--giving up way too many odd-man rushes and getting caught out of position too many times will circumvent the point this section is trying to prove. Michigan mostly kept the Buckeyes to the perimeter and while Mann did make a few dandy saves, it was not to the point where they hung their netminder out to dry…at least not strictly speaking about play in the defensive zone.

[After THE JUMP: ODD-MAN RUSH has entered the chat]

Tommy Nappier got his revenge tonight…on the power play and at even strength [Coller]

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Analysis: Michigan seemed to turn their power play around over the last few weeks. That was not the case last night, and it was certainly not the case tonight. Going 0-for-the-weekend was probably not going to yield a ton of positive results and when they could not solve Nappier at even strength tonight, the man advantage was going to need to come up large. It did not.   
• The penalty kill, on the other hand, bounced back considerably. Getting two game misconducts and the resulting ten minutes of straight power play time, not to mention a couple of other OSU power plays, really put the Wolverines behind the eight ball. Yet not only did they not give up a goal, they barely gave up many great looks to a very good Buckeye unit. Great effort, but an unfortunate result.

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Believe it or not, Mann kick flips this away [Coller]

GOALTENDING

• Analysis: I’m running out of things to say about Strauss Mann. He gave up three goals, two of which came on OMRs and the initial goal was very unlucky: a slow, plodding shot from the point that never left the ice. There was no way he saw it. Even the defenseman who shot it was surprised it went in. The OMR goals were just that: fantastic chances that were going to beat almost anyone in net. Mann did well with what he could control and kept Michigan in the game, making his fair share of great saves, too. Nothing tonight was on him.

ODD-MAN RUSHES

• Analysis: Michigan lost this game in transition. Seven OMRs?! I don’t know if they’ve given up that many in the rest of the second half of the season combined! The initial five killed them to start, as OSU converted on their third chance, a well-worked 3v2. Mann denied a breakaway and an unlucky, out-of-the-box 3v1, but he could not finish the save despite getting some of it on Summers’ mistake that led to a 2v1 that all but ended the game late in the third period. For a team that has cleaned up so many of their defensive and transition issues, this was the worst possible time for them to rear their ugly head. Michigan also did not record a single offensive OMR.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Michigan 51(16), Ohio State 38(12)

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Michigan 52, Ohio State 37