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

 

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

	Total Attempts	Even Strength	Power Play	Close (within 1)	Even Strength %
Michigan State	47	42	5	22	38%
Michigan	79	69	10	36	62%

Forward Notes.

-Michigan sent four of their best players to China to compete for the US and Canada in the Olympics. They still kept plenty of talent in reserve. Michigan State was able to skate with the Wolverines for about a period or so, but that was about it. Alex talked for weeks about State just not being very good. There is truth in them there words. Games against MSU always make me nervous because of their style of play and the “Rivalry Factor.” That was unnecessary on Friday night.

-One of the lines to watch this weekend and next is the Beecher/Samoskevich/Duke line. While the game was in doubt, this was Michigan’s best forward line. Mackie Samoskevich tallied from the point. He also made a quick move to set up Duke in the slot…but he hit the bar. Johnny Beecher also made with his size and speed, getting to the net a couple of times.

-Nolan Moyle sliced the game wide open with a shot from distance, making it 4-0 in the second period. Nick Granowicz created a couple chances for Moyle on that rush, including a back-handed assist that put the puck on a tee for Nolan on his goal. Grano hasn’t got a ton of ice time, but he skated like he belonged on plenty of shifts on Friday. Philippe Lapointe also found the back of the net for his second straight game. Depth scoring coming along for the Wolverines.

 

Truscott breaks the ice, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead (James Coller)

Defense Notes.

-The Colorado Avalanche are good for many reasons, but one of the biggest is the fact that half of their defensemen can create offense as well as their forwards. With Michigan’s top forwards at the Olympics, that is exactly what Michigan needs over the next couple weeks. They definitely got it on Friday night. Ethan Edwards, Nick Blankenburg, Luke Hughes, and Jacob Truscott all contributed on the scoresheet and created chances all night.

-Luke Hughes is the real deal. He skated circles around Michigan State at times. He also buried two shots from distance on the power play. Luke also got an assist on the Samoskevich goal. He’s up to 12 goals and 14 assists on the year. Hughes is Must Watch every time he steps on the ice.

-Jacob Truscott tallied Michigan’s first goal of the evening on a rebound from a Mike Pastujov chance from the slot. After the DZTO, Truscott crashed the net and was rewarded for it. He also got a couple of assists, including a bomb of a shot from the point that Philippe Lapointe was able to redirect into the net. Truscott had a very poor penalty against Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, but other than that, he’s been solid…and now contributing offensively.

 

Luke Hughes: ONE! TWO! Two powerplay snipes! Ah Ah Ah (James Coller)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

	PP Opportunities	PP Corsi For	PP Shots/Minute
Michigan State	2/4	5	.6 (3/5)
Michigan	3/5	10	1 (6/6)

Power Play. Shooters shoot! Nik Stauskas Luke Hughes fired away from the point…once off the bounce and once on a catch-and-shoot…and canned both from the left point, eleven and nine seconds into respective powerplays. Duncan Robinson Mackie Samoskevich also cashed an open look from the point to give Michigan three long range makes in the second period. That was more than enough to end the uncertainty of outcome on Friday evening.

 

Penalty Kill. Michigan State got a couple of chances on the man advantage in the first couple of periods, but Michigan still had the puck more and probably created better offensive chances. The Spartans did claw back a couple of power play goals once the game was 6-0…against Michigan’s third string goalie.

 

 

Erik Portillo and Jack Leavy got playing time (James Coller)

GOALTENDING CHART

	Michigan Shots Faced (House)	Michigan State Shots Faced (House)
First Period	7(6)	9(5)
Second Period	2(1)	17(6)
Third Period	11(3)	9(6)
Overtime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	20(10)	35(17)

Notes. I had a friend on my broomball team who used to come out of the net to play the puck every time she could because that was the only time she got to do anything. She can relate to Erik Portillo. He had to make a save on a 2v1 in the first. He also covered a few pucks in scrums and stood tall like the Mt. Portillo that he is, saving another couple of shots. Other than that, he came close to playing as many pucks behind the net on dump-ins as he did making saves. He also had quite a few very audible laughs that traveled up to the press box, including one chuckle from the opposite end that was very loud. That pretty much summed up his evening.

A wild Jack Leavy appears! He made his Michigan debut and gets to say he logged minutes at Yost. Unfortunately, he gave up two power play goals. He did also make three saves, though.

 

 

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Defense	Rushes	Advs	Escape%	Offense	Rushes	Advs	Scoring%
1st Period	1	2v1	100%		1	1v0	0%
2nd Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
3rd Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
OT	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
Total	1	2v1	100%		1	1v0	0%

Notes. Jimmy Lambert came off the bench right after a change as a Wolverine penalty expired and received a great stretch pass. He got in alone and beat Drew DeRidder…but not the post. That was just one of many ironings on Friday night.

Michigan State did get a 2v1 in the first after Nick Blankenburg was caught pinching (and committing a penalty). Portillo came out to meet the shot, saved it, and the Wolverines were able to touch up ending the danger.

 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Despite not having several superstars, Michigan got contributions from their remaining stars and role players alike. They overmatched the Spartans about halfway through the game. There is still work to do this weekend at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday night at 7pm. The Wolverines made it look easy at Yost on Friday, though. With Minnesota beating Ohio State in Columbus, Michigan moves into a tie for first in the Big Ten.