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

What just happened (TL;DR): LOL. Michigan was mostly outplayed by Wisconsin for the better part of three periods, getting outshot and out-chanced. Wisconsin defended their slot very well, and shut down the neutral zone, stifling Michigan’s transition game. They sifted through Michigan’s defense taking leads of 2-1 and 5-4. However, Michigan’s raw skill and speed took over eventually to rescue them multiple times. Adam Fantilli and Mackie Samoskevich each scored twice. Steve Holtz (!!) fired home the winner in a Michigan-dominated overtime frame, giving Michigan the 1-0 lead in the Best of Three series.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Until late in the third and overtime, I thought Wisconsin was the better team. Michigan had more skill and better individual players, that certainly showed up at times. However, Wisconsin executed their game plan very well and outplayed a frustrated Michigan team for about 58 minutes. That was the best I’d seen the Badgers play against Michigan all year. The Wolverines struggled to much of anything with any consistency. Once the tying goal went in, though, the energy mostly left the Badgers and it was a matter of time before a Wolverine was going to win the game.

-Michigan got great individual performances from their biggest names. Adam Fantilli had two absolute Ovechkin missiles from just below the dot off of great feeds from Gavin Brindley and Luke Hughes. Adam would have had a hat trick, but his game-tying goal was waved off for too many men when someone left the bench and joined the play…while Erik Portillo was STILL IN THE CREASE. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that before. Mackie Samoskevich unleashed a SNIPE from straightaway to open the scoring. He also was credited with the game-tying goal…even though it looked like Brindley and Rutger McGroarty may have each gotten a touch on it in front of the net. Sometimes, Michigan looks like an all-star team that just gets phenomenal individual plays from future NHL players. Wisconsin looked like the better team most of the game. Michigan had the better players. On Friday, the better players beat the better team.

Defense Notes.

-For the better part of three periods, Michigan was a mess in their own zone. They struggled to clear the puck. Wisconsin’s forecheck was much better than it had been in any of the previous games. It looked a little like Michigan wasn’t ready for such a resistance. Late in the game, the Wolverines seemed to find their ability again, and didn’t get hemmed in as much, but overall, it was a rough go.

-Michigan didn’t clear the net front on the opening goal. Keaton Pehrson did get a little unlucky when the puck deflected off of him and into the net. Ethan Edwards turned the puck over behind his own net leading up to the game-tying fourth goal. The puck also passed through Seamus Casey before sliding out into the slot for a waiting (again) Mathiew De St. Phalle for his third goal of the game.

-Again, Michigan dressed seven defensemen. Steve Holtz played over Luca Fantilli on the third pairing again. All game there was discussion in the press box about why Holtz was getting all of the minutes. The thought was that Holtz struggles to skate and play the puck and doesn’t do enough with his size versus Luca’s ability to skate and pass. But…then Steve Holtz gets his first, most important overtime game-winning goal. So, what do I know? haha

-Seamus Casey has a really nice shot to score a goal to tie the game at two. He also added a couple of assists. That’s two really nice games in a row for the freshman.

Adam Fantilli made Michigan’s sole power play shot count (Grace Beal)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan took one shot on three separate power plays…and it went in. Adam Fantilli and Luke Hughes ran a give and go with Fantilli sending a laser into the open net from below the dot to give Michigan a short-lived lead. The power play overall, though, was not very good. They had trouble gaining the zone. They didn’t get much set up when they did. One shot in four and a half minutes just isn’t good enough.

Penalty Kill. It was not the best night on the penalty kill for Michigan, either. They killed off a couple of them, but probably should have given up a goal. A couple of pucks jumped some Badger sticks at key times. Dylan Duke was given five and a game for contact to the head. Another major. After seeing it live, it looked pretty clear what was going to happen. There was no reason for Duke to take the hit. It was a loose puck at the offensive blue line and Duke jumped into the Badger, and his head snapped back. While I am tired of all of the majors, there are enough that are legit. And Michigan knows the rules. There needs to be some in-house accountability on taking these penalties…regardless of what you think of the enforcement.

Luke Hughes was beaten in the corner by Brock Caufield. He found a wide open Mathiew De St. Phalle down the slot for a one-timer. Hughes getting beaten sucked Keaton Pehrson down towards the net creating the space. It’s not great, but defending in your zone for five straight minutes is also very difficult. Don’t put your team in that position.

It was an eventful night for Mr. Portillo (Grace Beal)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. What a weird night for Erik Portillo. He gave up five goals, but I’m not sure any of them were on him. Maybe he could have done better to corral a loose puck in front on the first goal, but that might be asking a bit much. The second goal was a tipped shot from straightaway. He had no chance on the third goal. You can always ask for a save on a walk-down the slot or shutting down a breakaway (Portillo has been pretty good at that in his career), but in no way are those his fault. He did, however, make a number a really strong saves. Erik has a couple of great positional ones on shots from the slot. He made an unreal cross-crease diving save to deny an open net tap-in goal. That was one of his best of the year. By no means is this a game to remember for him, but he did enough given the context of the game.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Michigan didn’t give up an OMR until early in the third period. When they did, though, it was a doozy. Luke Hughes got ripped in the offensive end, and Wisconsin got a 2v0. Dominick Mersch beat Portillo to give Wisconsin a 5-4 lead. Ethan Edwards took a slashing call on the subsequent breakaway to break it up.

Somehow, Michigan did not register an OMR against Wisconsin. Hat tip to the Badgers for that after what happened a month ago.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is a game that you just look at the result and move on. This was far from a well-played game from Michigan, but somehow, they overcame a big mess and stole a win. In playoff hockey, that’s all that matters. I expect Michigan to be much crisper and slicker on Saturday night. Chalk won across the board in the Big Ten. The Wolverines are still a distant fourth in PWR behind Denver. Game 2 is Saturday night at 7pm on BTN+.