*PSA: There will be no Breakdown for Saturday night’s contest in East Lansing because I am incapable of being in multiple places at once.*

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

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-Happy Birthday to Matty Beniers! Matty takes his birthday pretty seriously it appears. He started the game with a bang on back to back 2v1 rushes with Kent Johnson. Beniers buried the second chance. He also tallied a power play goal, later…another great pass from KJ, btw. Johnson created three assists, tonight, really embracing the creator role. Nick Granowicz started on that line, but Luke Morgan also spent a while with KJ/Beniers. The line did take part in the defensive breakdown that led to the first Spartan goal. They can be a bit sloppy in their own end from time to time. Always something to work on.

-Johnny Beecher made his long awaited return to the ice. He had a very nice power move to the net, firing down the left wing and getting in the crease. After moving the goalie, Beecher drew iron unfortunately. Later in the game, he did find the back of the net from the low slot after another gorgeous pass from KJ. Beecher playing 3C could take this offense to a new level. It will be interesting to see how his line develops. He mostly skated with Duke and Lambert

-Michigan State does not really do offense very well. Alex and I talked on the HockeyCast about how getting the first goal is very important to keep the Spartans out of their Siege Defense mentality. The Wolverines were able to get the first two, and that really set the tone for the evening. Once they cashed their third and fourth goals late in the second period, the game was pretty much over.

Defense Notes.

-I’ve written a couple of times about the frustrating lows of Luke Hughes. Tonight, we saw the sky high ceiling. Luke got into the slot several times coming off of the boards or the point. He received a pass from Jacob Truscott and completely lost his defender, dove into the slot, and buried his chance, giving Michigan a 4-1 lead. His skating is just on such a high level, especially for a defenseman. Later, he skated Michigan into a 2v1 and put the puck into a dangerous area and was rewarded with a goal off of a friendly bounce.

-Don’t look now, but Jacob Truscott has seven points in nine games. He got his first point of the evening, highlighted by keeping the puck in the zone and finding a cutting Brendan Bisson down the slot with a precise pass. Brisson waited until just the right time to flip the puck over a lunging Pierce Charleson. Truscott also collected an assist on the Hughes WonderGoal.

-Steve Holtz made his first appearance of his Michigan career and played with Owen Power. I thought he actually looked pretty good, joining rushes, connecting passes to get out of the zone. It’s a big ask for a guy to get his first ice time in such a bright spotlight, but he attributed himself well. In the third he had a “college hockey fight” with Griffin Loughran. That won the crowd over, for sure.

-Just a note, Mel said in his post-game presser that he thought Nick Blankenburg would make the trip and dress against Penn State, next week. Not Saturday in East Lansing, though.

Matty AND Mackie both tally (JD Scott)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. While the Wolverines did not overwhelm with shots, they did create a number of chances and made their good looks count. Michigan tried to get Matty Beniers on the BrissonDot and did so successfully. He finished his chance after a great cross-ice look from KJ. Mackie Samoskevich also scored eight seconds into a man advantage on a shot from straightaway. Dylan Duke provided a nice screen in front. Mackie shooting chops are really starting to show. The Wolverines are just so deep and can throw so many different draft picks in different positions. Tonight, they cashed well.

Penalty Kill. Michigan State had three power plays on the evening…and did very little with any of them, including a five minute all-you-can-eat chance. In fact, Michigan once again created better chances down a man than their opponent did with an extra skater. On the evening, the Wolverines had four OMRs while killing a penalty. They also did a good job not letting the Spartans really set up in the offensive zone. After struggling against Western, Michigan has put together three straight games of great penalty killing.

When he needed to be, Erik Portillo was there (JD Scott)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo started in net, again, on Friday night. This might have been his most non-descript night. He never really made a huge save, but he made a number of solid routine saves. Again, his position looks very good, tracking the puck well. Neither goal should be pinned on him. He was beaten by a wide open Cole Krygier from the high slot after a long shift. The second goal was the result of a weird DZTO from Brisson along the boards. He kicked the puck out into the middle of the ice and State was able to get to puck behind him, but botched a couple of open net goals, after Portillo made the original save. Finally, the puck was slammed into the open net. In the end, it was a solid game in net for Erik.

Creating chances in transition always gives you a chance (JD Scott)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Between the late first period and the early second period, the Wolverines gave up three OMRs that probably should have resulted in at leats one goal. Erik Portillo made a nice save on the first 3v2, but the next 2v1 got a bit squirrely. The Spartans got an attacker backdoor to an open net, and the puck got lost in his skates and trickled wide. Yikes. The third rush also ended with a Spartan pass in the skates, as well. Michigan gave up some chances, but Michigan State didn’t execute very well.

So, uh, in the first seven minutes of the game, Michigan had five (!!) OMRs! KJ and Beniers had identical 2v1s that resulted in Matty getting great looks from the slot. He shot the first one wide and buried the second one. The next three were on an ensuing Wolverines penalty kill. Beniers got a breakaway in addition to his teammates creating two 3v2s. It seems risky to send three dudes up the ice when you only have four skating. Pierce Charleson saved each chance, though. Michigan added a couple more 2v1s in the third, cashing a Luke Hughes pass that is blocked into a dislodged net. And after a review, too! Hooray!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Once again, Michigan thoroughly dominates a Big Ten opponent in Game 1. They play (mostly) good defense, score on the power play, in transition, and with star power. With this team, though, it is all about the brooms. Go to East Lansing and do the same thing. Big chance on Saturday at 7:30 on BTN+.