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

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan just beat down an overmatched Wisconsin hockey team. They scored four even strength goals and two power play goals…all before Wisconsin got to twenty shots on net. Erik Portillo was good. This game was done and dusted rather quickly.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-This was an absolute face-crushing by Michigan over a much weaker opponent. Michigan controlled the puck from the jump and never really let up until sometime in the third. The game was over midway through the second period…and Michigan probably left multiple goals on the ice. Wisconsin just could not skate with Michigan’s top two lines. When either line was on the ice, the puck was going to the Badger end and fast. Good scoring chances would also ensue.

-Nick Granowicz scored his first goal since opening night. It was a juicy rebound right in front of the crease. No Badger defensemen were in sight. Gavin Brindley and Adam Fantilli each tallied four points. Dylan Duke added a one-timer late.

Defense Notes.

-Seamus Casey and Jacob Truscott were both out on Friday night. This was a good night for them to miss. Michigan looked just fine on defense, limiting the Badgers to just eleven shots in the first two periods. Close corsi all evening was a crazy 37-11. Wow.

-Steve Holtz played on Friday night for the first time since November 5th. His story is well-documented, obviously. He didn’t do anything of note, outside of defending Luke Hughes in a scrum…and really holding back when he could have lit up Mathieu De St. Phalle at center ice. Regardless, it was really cool to see him back in uniform and in a game at Yost.

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan challenged a hit and got a five minute power play after a kneeing call on Jack Horbach. Despite Ethan Edwards taking a tripping call in the middle of it, the Wolverines were still able to score twice. Adam Fantilli and Gavin Brindley played catch along the goal line, and Brindley finished a sharp angle chance. Gavin also fired a one-timer that Jared Moe saved…right to Mackie Samoskevich. Easy goal for Samo. The power play unit pretty much sealed the game for the Wolverines.

Penalty Kill. Michigan didn’t have many penalties to kill (good). They mostly did so, easily. Wisconsin did tie the game early on a well placed shot by Tyson Jugnauth, his third goal of the year. Jugnauth fired a shot around a screen to the far side post and in. Jackson Hallum got a couple of very good chances on the kill, but Jared Moe made the saves. That’s about it for this section.

A save! (Sahib Singh)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo started in net on Friday night and made some saves. Not a ton of saves because there were not really than many chances or shots…especially while the game was close. He did save a Not Really Breakaway and then ensuing rebound with his mask! Portillo also went a-wandering a couple of times that led to a couple of fun instances, including making a couple out-of-net saves. I didn’t think either goal that beat him was particularly bad…or relevant.

Yet another way Adam Fantilli scores (Sahib Singh)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Wisconsin had about three ALMOST OMRs, but they just could not skate enough to use their spatial advantage.  So…if you want to count those, okay. Regardless, nothing of interest happened…except Michigan generally ran down whomever got behind them. Erik Portillo did make a mask save on a rebound on one of the Not Really OMRs.

Gavin Brindley got behind the Wisconsin defense and almost slid the puck five hole. Moe was able to save but not freeze it. Adam Fantilli chased the play and poked in the rebound.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thank you, Patrick Barron!