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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-That was bonkers. Michigan coaxed Quinnipiac into a frenetic pace in the first period, turning Allentown, Pennsylvania into a Wild West Shootout. There were 28 evenly divided shots in the opening frame, alone. The difference was that Michigan was able to finish a couple of their early chances...albeit not their best ones. The worry coming into the game was that we'd be in for a 30 shot total slugfest that one team would win on a coin-flip bounce. While that did come into play during the second and early third period, it was mostly too late for Turtle/Siege Hockey at that point. Michigan won the game at 5v5 and on Special Teams before they almost gave it away...and had to win it again. 

-The Fourth Line. We talked all year about Michigan's speed and skill, draft picks and NHL talent. On Sunday night, near the famous Bethlehem Steel mill, it was Michigan's Blue Collar dudes getting it done. Nolan Moyle crashed the net 33 seconds into the game and put Michigan out front. Jimmy Lambert beat his man to the crease to finish Luke Hughes gorgeous move and pass. Garrett Van Whye outskated and outworked a Bobcat defenseman and then Yaniv Perets to tally a shorty right before the end of the second period. On a team with eight drafted forwards, the Blue Collar line ground out four of the team's seven goals. If the Wolverines are going to get depth scoring like this, they'll be tough to beat in Boston.

-One thing to be discussed more on the HockeyCast is the early goalie-pull by Quinnipiac with almost four minutes left. Alex thought it was a bit early. I was fine with it. The Bobcats were holding a decided advantage in ice position. They had scored three in just seven minutes. Analytics are on the side of pulling early...shoot your shot. It didn't work out, but I don't blame Rand Pecknold and his staff. They were trying to capitalize on a reeling defense and team psyche. In the end it took a nice play from Thomas Bordeleau to intercept a pass. Very nice for fifth year senior Mike Pastujov to get the empty-netter than sent his Wolverines back to the Frozen Four.

Defense Notes.

-Ugh. This was a roller coaster. Michigan's defensive play in the opening period was up there among the worst stretches of team defense this season. They struggled getting it out of their end, turned it over all over the ice, and gave up good looks consistently. But Portillo (spoiler alert). Then...they locked down the second period. Other than an OMR, Portillo had little to do. Michigan skated the puck and protected the lead. With around eleven minutes to play, everything came unglued again. Ethan Edwards had a horrendous DZTO (though Alex is arguing that the crappy ice lead to the jumpy puck). Nick Blankenburg got bodied off the puck behind the net that led to the third goal. It just looked like someone hit the panic button again. But Portillo.

-On the positive side, Luke Hughes skated brilliantly again, singlehandedly creating the second goal by losing his guy and dishing the puck to an open Jimmy Lambert in front. Nick Blankenburg created the fourth goal winning a race to a puck and throwing it to the crease where Van Whye poked in the short-handed tally. 

-Owen Power settled down more as the game progressed, but he struggled defensively too often. Thankfully, he moved the puck really, really well offensively. Owen tallied four assists on the evening, almost doubling his second half offensive output. The competition ratchets up another notch in a couple weeks. Getting Owen to...Full Power will be key.

A Blue Collar Goal for Garrett Van Whye (David Wilcomes)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. On the first entrance of the first shift of the first power play, Thomas Bordeleau gained the zone, dropped it to Power, and went to the slot. Owen Power hit Brendan Brisson on the boards, who whipped it back to Bordeleau, unchecked in the slot. Too easy. When Michigan got their second advantage, the game was over, but the scoring was not. Power to Bordeleau between his legs to Brisson on his dot...Money. Michigan went 2/2 against the best PK in the nation. 

Penalty Kill. Not only did Michigan stifle Q-Pac's power play advantages, Blankenburg and Van Whye won a 2v2 race through the neutral zone. Nick got to the puck, flung it across to Garrett, who poked it in for a shortie and 4-0 lead at the end of the second. The Wolverines also had a GREAT kill in the third when the game was unraveling. We've talked about it since December...this is now a strength!

A Brick Wall when it was close (David Wilcomes)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo flashed his brilliance early and often. Hung out to dry too often, he stepped up and made save after save repeatedly to preserve Michigan's lead in the opening stanza. That was his best period of the season. Erik only faced six shots in the second, but two of those were on a 2v1. Just another outstanding play by the Swede. In the third...yikes, it got interesting. Still, it's hard to put too much on Portillo, despite letting in four. Two goals came as the result of terrible DZTOs where he was completely abandoned. Another goal went in off of Nick Blankenburg. The last one was with 20 seconds left and it went through a number of screeners. The biggest take away about Portillo is that he was a rock when they needed him. He dragged them through the Wild West early on, and steadied the ship, making numerous big saves from point blank range when the defense started crumbling. There's a case that he's been Michigan's best and most consistent player all season.

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes.

Quinnipiac got a 3v1 early, but shot the puck very early in the rush from distance. It was an easy save and hold from Portillo. On their second OMR, a 2v1, Portillo made a crazy double save, denying both chances for the Bobcats.

Michigan had oodles of chances in transition early, including three breakaways in the first period. While they didn't score on the initial 3v2, the shift ended with Nolan Moyle cutting the Wolverines to a lead just 33 seconds into the game.
 

As crazy as that third period was...there wasn't much in transition.

WE'RE GOING TO BOSTON (David Wilcomes)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Lol. Michigan won the game in the first two periods. They gave it away in seven minutes of the third period. Then, made a few plays down the stretch to win it again...and still pull away in the end. While this didn't go exactly according to plan -especially after being up by four- they made plays with their backs against the wall and saw it through. In Elimination Hockey, that's all that's necessary. See you in Boston.