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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-If you’ve watched Michigan play Notre Dame in the last 5-10 years, you probably know how this goes. The Irish play very sound in-zone defense. They don’t generally stray from responsibilities. They also can physically win battles in the corner and the front of the net. Friday night was no different. When Michigan was able to gain the zone, Notre Dame kept them to the edges and close down their space and time pretty easily. Once the game got later, they shrunk back further, and dared the Wolverines to pick the lock. They could not.  

-Mel Pearson opted to go with the Hero Line of KJ/Beniers/Brisson. They started January very well before being broken up in Minneapolis. Tonight, they were mostly contained by the Irish defensive lockdown. The issue with that line is they tend to play for the highly skilled goal, making extra passes and getting the very open look. They got almost none of those. At some point, its time to get the blue collar goal and get to the net, win a physical battle, and outwork the opponent. That did not happen enough on Friday in South Bend.

-Once again, a major penalty dooms the Wolverines. Johnny Beecher cross-checked a guy in the head/neck after a faceoff. There was absolutely no reason to do that…just like many previous Wolverines majors. While Michigan probably kills the major if Portillo doesn’t make his mistake, it doesn’t really matter. Taking these penalties has become a representation of this team. Sometimes, they are talented enough to overcome them and win anyway. However, it doomed them against Notre Dame in November and Minnesota in January. The only thing to do is just don’t make stupid mistakes. At this point, though, it’s not exactly unexpected. Last thing about Beecher being leaving the game: he’s been one of Michigan’s best players in the second half AND he’s the lynch-pin of that line…a line that has a tendency to get greasy goals. That was exactly what Michigan needed in the final two periods.

Oof. Not great. (Zoey Holmstrom)

Defense Notes.

-Two of the three relevant goals should be attributed to the defense on Friday. Both the first and third goals were the result of lackadaisical play around their net. While Janicke got a tip on a shot from the point that went off of Portillo’s pad, Ethan Edwards got lost and left Graham Slaggert open near the far post. That was an open net goal. Luke Hughes lost position to Jack Adams at the far post on the third Irish goal. Again, Portillo was able to save Nick Leivermann’s bid, but Adams finished the goal because he was able to outmuscle Hughes. Hughes also got beat when Slaggert hit the post last in the first period as well. Owen Power was sloppy with the puck all night. It’s arguable the Keaton Pehrson was the Wolverine’s best defensive defenseman all evening.

-Nick Blankenburg did score Michigan’s lone goal. He also was probably unlucky to not score another one. On a night when Notre Dame was able to shut down Michigan’s forwards and defensemen on the attack, Blankenburg did lead the Wolverines in offensive chances.

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. It took most of the two periods to get a power play. Once they did, they ended up getting a few, but they were unable to do a whole lot with any of them. The Irish have the best Kill in the nation, and it was on display on Friday night. Michigan struggled to get into the House or create a dangerous look on net at all. They almost grabbed a goal via volume of chances, but there was not a Should Have Been for them on the power play. They also were sloppy with the puck and neither shots nor passes were consistently crisp.

Penalty Kill. Michigan had to kill a five minute major to start the second period. They were over three minutes into it (looking fine) when Erik Portillo made a huge gaffe. That’s covered in the next section. Portillo did make a large number of saves aside from his mistake. Notre Dame also nearly got a second on their major penalty. Once that goal went in, it got pretty chaotic in front and Michigan was probably lucky to only end up giving up the one. Not Michigan’s best night down a man.  

When he stayed in the crease, Erik Portillo was pretty good (Zoey Holmstrom)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. By the numbers, Erik Portillo didn’t have that bad of a game. In fact, as the game went along, it’s arguable that he had a pretty good game. Unfortunately, he made the biggest gaffe of the game that ended up being the turning point, in retrospect. With Michigan in a tie game, killing a five minute major, Portillo went on an adventure to the corner to clear a puck. Keaton Pehrson was already there, though. The ensuing puck fumble bounced to Jesse Lansdell who slipped the puck between a couple of sticks and into the open net. While that was only one play, it was a terrible decision that gave away the lead in an early 2000’s slugfest. He did play well after that, making a handful of great saves. At the point, it just felt a little too late.

 Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (Zoey Holmstrom)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Well, I guess it could have been worse. Portillo shut down three breakaways and made nice saves on two more OMRs. While a few of those came in the third period with Michigan down a couple of goals, a couple of them did not. In some senses, the Wolverines were lucky to still be in the game in the third. Woof.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Michigan played sloppily and gave Notre Dame enough chances, and the Irish finished them. Notre Dame returned the favor by locking Michigan out of the House all night. The frustrating part was that Michigan got the first goal. They just made mistakes that gave away three more (and several others that could have turned it into a route). The Olympians looked like they hadn’t played in a while. Michigan also played a ton of games in a row that they looked great and won. At some point, these games will also happen. Unfortunately, they could not afford to drop all three points. Now, despite Sunday, we’re all Badger fans.