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

What just happened (TL;DR): In a much more wide open game, Michigan’s puck management in their own zone left a lot to be desired and it cost the Wolverines. The Spartans capitalized on poor defensive zone play by their counter-parts, grabbed a 3-1 lead, and then held on down the stretch. Trey Augustine is the best goalie I’ve seen this season. There’s a reason he was drafted so high, and he did it once again to Michigan in Detroit, stopping 36 of 38 shots.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Michigan created chances, again, getting almost 40 shots. They just couldn’t solve Trey Augustine, again. I don’t have the xG or shot charts, but I didn’t think their dangerous looks were as numerous as previous games against MSU. Augustine was obviously very good, but he didn’t have to go into Hero Mode, start flashing his cape. Michigan State has played Michigan better each time they faced them this season…a little reminiscent of how Michigan adjusted to Ohio State last season.

-Alex and I had a texting debate about the top line. Should Michigan stick with them or break them up to create a little jump and depth? They weren’t their best on Saturday by any means. During our conversation, Rutger McGroarty hit Gavin Brindley on the back post for a goal. Just kinda funny. It will be interesting to see what Michigan does with the Hero Line after this weekend.

-I don’t have a ton more to say. Trey Augustine bailed out the MSU defense better than Jake Barczewski bailed out Michigan’s defense. Augustine is really good.

Defense Notes.

-There’s just no way around it anymore. Michigan just gives the puck away too much in their own zone. It’s definitely been worse than tonight, but it’s honestly just not good enough. The D-zone puck management needs to be cleaned up imminently. All of the goals were caused by faulty defensive plays (Jake Barczewski did factor a bit on the third, too).

-Michigan has a lot of pieces and quality players…but if they want to start reaching their ceiling and have a shot of hanging anything at all in the rafters…or just making the NCAA Tournament, they just have to stop turning the puck over in their own zone. That’s it. I have nothing more to say.

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan finally got a power play goal for the first time since the Wisconsin series. Gavin Brindley won the race to the end boards, drop-passed to a following Dylan Duke who beat Trey Augustine in tight. This was not a special teams series by any means.

Penalty Kill. Michigan’s penalty kill wasn’t great, but it got the job done. Things got a little squirrelly on the first Spartan advantage when they created some chances and scrambles in front, but Jake Barczewski kept the puck out…which is all that matters. The second penalty kill was better. MSU barely threatened on that one.

Nowhere to shoot (Bill Rapai)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Once again, Jake Barczewski played fine. He wasn’t elite, but he mostly did what he was asked, and he sprinkled in a handful of bail-out saves, as well. He made two saves on essentially breakaways. He also made a few other quick reaction stops. He did slide a bit out of the crease on the third goal which wasn’t great. I just don’t think he’s the issue on this team. Not every team gets a Trey Augustine (who was great again, tonight). You have to play to your goalie’s strengths – to a degree- but Michigan’s defense hangs Barczewski out to dry too many times for him to continuously bail them out. He saved 36 of 39 shots.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Although one started as a 2v1, Michigan State basically had three breakaways on Saturday night. Jake Barczewski saved two of them, and the third one went wide. I would say giving up a breakaway a period isn’t great or ideal, but I’ve definitely seen way worse.

I’m only counting Michigan’s 2v1 because it was technically a 2v1. Literally nothing came of it, as Jacob Truscott had the puck knocked off his stick into the corner. He did the it back to the net-front, but it never got on net. Michigan State has gotten increasingly better at defending Michigan in transition. Tonight, the Wolverines got bupkis.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’ve probably written this a dozen times and said it even more on the Hockeycast. At this point, Michigan is going to either have to outscore their problems, play cleaner in their own end, or hope Jake Barczewski has the games of his life. If one or more of those things don’t happen, they’re not going to win hockey games. When multiple or all of those things happen, they can be the best team in the country. The mental fortitude that I thought Michigan gained from last weekend’s sweep in Columbus also seems to have been a one-off. When things went south Friday and Saturday, mistakes and goals were compounded. That is also concerning. Next weekend at Penn State. Both games are at 7pm. Friday on BTN- and Saturday on BTN.