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 won the Big Ten Hockey Tournament in Minneapolis for the second straight season! They responded well being down a goal twice, including once in the third period. AND…they killed off a game, holding a one goal lead for the final 8+ minutes. All very impressive feats that they’ve struggled with throughout the year. #EyeballEmoji

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

	Total Attempts	Even Strength	Power Play	Close (within 1)	Even Strength %
Minnesota	53	48	5	40	45%
Michigan	64	59	5	50	55%

Forward Notes.

-After a back and forth boring first period, Michigan mostly dominated possession and shots for the rest of the game. While they did makes mistakes to give up a number of transitional chances, Michigan rolled their lines and were able to sustain zone time and create looks on net with basically every line contributing. Minnesota’s superstar top line did get their chances, but Michigan’s depth (h/t Alex) proved strong throughout the game.

-Rutger McGroarty tallied Michigan’s first two goals on similar chances. The first came on a rebound that Ethan Edwards threw on net. The rebound kicked to Rutger in the slot and he buried it. The second was a bomb from Keaton Pehrson off the end boards out in front. Again, Rutger was positioned well in front the of the net for the rebound dunk. He also provided the screen on the game-tying goal.

-I mentioned that this rink/game/team was never going to fit Dylan Duke’s strong suit. He’s never going to be as effective in an Olympic rink. For the most part, that was true. BUT…in the third period, in a tie game, Dylan Duke made a play. TJ Hughes made a great entry pass from the blue line right to Duke’s stick. Dylan went forehand, backhand around Justen Close’s out-stretched skate and finished inside the post for the game-winner. Right where you’d expect Duke to finish.

-The fourth line was impressive on Saturday night. Mark Estapa was great on the forecheck, winning pucks below the goalline. He also had a number of decent scoring chances, too, including ringing the iron on the penalty kill. Nolan Moyle, too, had a few decent chances and checked well on both ends. Nick Granowicz also made a really nice play backchecking in his own crease to breakup a very good look.

 

Seamus Casey had the game-tying goal (Patrick Barron)

Defense Notes.

-In zone, Michigan’s defense was pretty good. They didn’t get overwhelmed and trapped very often. There weren’t TOO many bad DZTOs. They generally were comfortable on the puck getting it up and out. Luke Hughes and Keaton Pehrson had a bit of a rough start. Luke also did have a couple turnovers he’d probably want back, but overall it was a pretty positive night.

-The defensive issues came in transition. Luke Hughes made a bad shot decision that lead to a 2v1. Keaton Pehson played it very poorly, allowing a simple pass across for a goal. Seamus Casey was also caught napping once that lead to a rush. Casey and Edwards were both caught in the offensive zone when Minnesota scored on their 2v0. Steve Holtz was completely undressed by Rhett Pitlick on a 1v1 for the third goal. Holtz is by all accounts a great dude with a phenomenal recovery story, but he’s probably not skating in an ideal defensive lineup for Michigan. A lot of the positives Michigan gained with the play in their own end, they gave away in transition.

-Despite getting burned on a couple of very bad OMRs, Seamus Casey did snipe a corner from distance to tie the game in the third period. It was his 7th goal of the season and his 24th point in his 33rd game. Not bad.

 

Not on the power play, but Rutger McGroarty had a 3 point night (Bill Rapai)

 

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

	PP Opportunities	PP Corsi For	PP Shots/Minute
Minnesota	0/2	5	1 (4/4)
Michigan	0/1	5	1.5 (3/2)

Power Play. Michigan had only one power play on the evening. Despite not scoring, I thought their puck movement was pretty good, and they registered over a shot/minute. Adam Fantilli could not get his shot off in one motion or else he could have scored on a one-timer from the dot. He looked to have space to beat Close to the post, but the chance was not to be.

Penalty Kill. The Wolverine penalty kill was much better than last weekend. While Minnesota did get a shot/minute, only one of them was really a Grade A look, and Erik Portillo denied that chance. Michigan also threatened short-handed. Mark Estapa rang the iron. Adam Fantilli had a couple of really good looks from the edge of the House. Nolan Moyle had a good look at the edge of the crease. I wouldn’t be surprised if xG for both teams on Minnesota’s power plays was pretty similar. Lastly, Michigan defended really well against the extra attacker. That’s something that’s bitten them a couple of times, but they were on point on Saturday evening.

 

 

Once again, Erik Portillo did his job (Patrick Barron)

GOALTENDING CHART

	Michigan Shots Faced (House)	Minnesota Shots Faced (House)
First Period	7	6
Second Period	9	14
Third Period	9	12
Overtime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	25	32

Notes. Erik Portillo had yet another game in a row (six, I believe, going back to the Notre Dame series) that he played really well. Alex mentioned on the Watchalong that there was a save late that he needed to catch, and he dropped. Michigan iced it. That’s it, though. He did swim in the crease a couple of times, but mostly played under much better control in and around the net. He made a big save on the power play and a couple more on OMRs. There’s very little he could have done on any of the goals. He took a shot and guessed on the pass to break up the 2v0 and was really close to doing it. That was probably his best chance. If Michigan continues to get this play from Erik Portillo, they’ll love their chances in any remaining game this season.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Defense	Rushes	Advs	Escape%	Offense	Rushes	Advs	Scoring%
1st Period	2	2v1 x2	50%		n/a	n/a	n/a
2nd Period	3	1v0, 2v0, 2v1	66%		n/a	n/a	n/a
3rd Period	n/a	n/a	n/a		1	3v1	0%
OT	n/a	n/a	n/a		n/a	n/a	n/a
Total	5	2x1 x3, 2v0, 1v0	60%		1	3v1	0%

Notes. HOO BOY. Here we go. Michigan just hemorrhaged transitional chances throughout the first two periods. Luke Hughes rifled a shot from the point into two Gophers that deflected out into the neutral zone. Keaton Pehrson played it really poorly allowing the pass from Logan Cooley to Brody Lamb to get across very easily for the first goal. The second 2v1 was harmless as the attacking Gophers could not connect on their cross pass. Ethan Edwards and Seamus Casey both got caught in the offensive zone for the 2v0 later in the second period. While it was a perfect storm during the long change, Jimmy Snuggerud fed Logan Cooley for the open net goal. Seamus Casey was also caught napping the neutral zone that lead to a breakaway…that Portillo saved right at the end of the second period. The Wolverines did clean it up in the third, not ceding any OMRs…allowing plural breakaways and multiple 2v1s against a team like Minnesota is just too much.

Frank Nazar led a 3v1 in their third period. He slid the puck across, but the shot was blocked by a diving attempt. Alex and I wanted Nazar to just fire from that range; Brian liked the pass because the shot got away. It was a great play by the defenseman, either way. That was all Michigan got in transition.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Regardless of what happens next weekend (and hopefully a couple weekends after that), Michigan hung a banner on Saturday night. That’s why you compete at these levels. You come to Michigan to win stuff. This team has done that. There are more and bigger goals, for sure. But they now have a legacy. As far a next weekend goes, it looks like Michigan will get the #3 overall and head to Allentown, PA, again…to probably face Colgate? All of that will be determined for certain at 6:30pm on Sunday night on ESPNU.