OFFENSE

Analysis: Michigan jumped Penn State early, as Van Whye and Moyle combined for an early Wolverine lead, just a few minutes into the game. That line proved to be about the most impactful, gaining scoring chances throughout the game. Morgan took over for Van Whye, again, and created in the offensive zone as well. While the Lions did back off to some extent –or by their standards, anyway- Michigan looked in solid control of the game and the puck for the first 30 minutes. After that, though, the Wolverines offensive chances started to dry up, and the ice tilted in the opposite direction. Again Thomas Bordeleau looked spry creating some opportunistic chances, even rifling his own shot high and away from an open look in the slot. The lines were blended for the first time this year, so creating different chemistry might have been part of that. It will be interesting to see if the Wolverines can recreate that early momentum tomorrow night. Penn State flipped the script on Michigan, forcing the Wolverines to claw for gritty win.

DEFENSE

Analysis: After looking solid for the first half of the contest, the Wolverine defensive effort seemed to collapse. Penn State turned up the heat, down 2-0, and Michigan looked spooked. DZTOs became routine, including some Mann-testing giveaways. It did not seem to be one specific player or pairing. Power, York, Blankenburg, and Summers all had nervy shifts and head-scratching moments. Michigan does not look at all comfortable when forechecked hard. Multiple guys ended up getting caught out, leading to multiple Lion transition chances, as well. We came into this matchup thinking that Michigan might do more of the overwhelming going forward, but as the game progressed, the opposite proved true. On a positive note, Jacob Truscott seemed to have another strong game, minimizing mistakes and making multiple 1v1 stops.

[AFTER THE JUMP: Fun Power Plays and Great Goaltending]

One of the few attacking bright sports tonight, Mike Pasta served up another helping [James Coller]

SPECIAL TEAMS

Analysis: Dakota Raabe helped Michigan out tonight by drawing two of their four power plays. While Michigan’s first opportunity didn’t generate much and their third was quickly negated by a lazy York play that ended in a penalty, their second power play was bonkers. They bombed Autio with shots and sliced through the Kill with aplomb. Michigan had multiple great chances to score before Bordeleau and Brisson executed highlight reel cross-ice passes and Mike Pastujov deposited the puck into an empty net. The Wolverines had one last man advantage that saw Kent Johnson almost sneak a goal early before fizzling out thereafter.

Michigan took two frustrating penalties (not too many, but poor decisions). Penn State looked lively on their one real man advantage, getting two shots on net and creating a few good chances. They could not muster anything Grade A, however.

Always there [James Coller]

GOALTENDING

Analysis: This was Strauss Mann’s best game of the year. While his compatriots were a bit off their game, Strauss was not. As they struggled to move, clear, and keep the puck for stretches of the game, Mann continually bailed them out, making save after save. He even made a really strong poke check early on in the game…an aspect I do not remember him employing all too often. That’s just another example of how improved and complete of a goaltender Mann has become. As the game wore on, he made bigger and bigger saves, including a few bail-out ones from point-blank range. Again, it just seems harder and harder to get Portillo a look.

ODD MAN RUSHES

Analysis: Michigan gives up four more OMRs, tonight. This is become a disturbing trend in the last few games. While the first 3v2 amounted to nothing, the remaining three chances all produced ample opportunities…including a goal. Mann bailed Michigan out on one attempt while the ice bounced the puck over the final attacker’s stick on the next. Finally, the Lions capitalized in transition when Mann went post to post, but Evan Bell’s shot hit the bottom of the bar. Michigan was playing with fire all night, and it finally burned them.

Michigan created zero OMRs in this game. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Penn State 56, Michigan 43