Can Hockey Make a Run?

Submitted by bklein09 on
The 4-0 win tonight against BG is a good sign for this team moving forward. After tonight the CCHA standings look like this:

1) Miami 57 points (22 GP)

2) MSU 43 points (24 GP)

3) Ferris 40 points (22 GP)

4) Michigan 37 points (22 GP)

5) Alaska 35 points (24 GP)

5) Nebraska 35 points (24 GP)

7) NMU 33 points (22 GP)

Michigan's remaining schedule consists of @Nebraska x2, NMU x2, and a home/away with ND. With things set up this way Michigan can make a very nice run to close things out and hopefully give us something to be excited over the next few months until spring practice arrives. I don't know about you guys but I need something badly.

If Michigan can win 5 of the final 6 (which is very doable IMO) they will finish no lower than 4th in the conference and possibly 3rd or even 2nd with a little help from Ferris or MSU. Remember that Michigan currently has two games in hand on MSU, meaning that if they sweep next weekend they will be sitting one game behind the spartans. Also keep in mind that Ferris and MSU play two weekends from now, making 3rd place even more likely.

Once the CCHA tourney hits, we just have to hope that Michigan is playing their best hockey and can ride that steam into the NCAAs and make a run. If their is anything that watching college hockey has taught me over the years it is that you cannot predict what's going to happen. This is especially true when you get into single elimination games.

Did anyone think that ND would make the final two years ago? Or Miami last year? Or that Michigan would be knocked out by Air Force last year? Upsets are a dime a dozen in college hockey, as we have all become painfully aware of over the past few years.

All I am saying is that for now I am keeping the faith in the hockey team. And even though that may seem a little naive, it feels like the only thing I have left at this point, so I'm running with it. Football just seems so far away...sigh...

Go Blue!

VictorsValiant09

February 10th, 2010 at 12:16 AM ^

A dominant effort by the team tonight, on both sides of the puck. I was especially impressed, defensively.

Hogan wasn't spetacular, but available when needed.

It's nice to see Louie play like he did tonight, too. He was all over the place. Hagelin/Rust/Brown also had excellent games.

MGoAndy

February 10th, 2010 at 2:32 AM ^

I've been especially impressed with Brown/Lebler/Treais lately. I like the two young guns - one a dangley playmaker, the other a bruising power forward - playing alongside the senior scrapper in Lebler - who has been playing really well as of late. He had an amazing backcheck tonight (so did Kampfer MY GOD) and that line just really has a nose for the puck.

kmd

February 10th, 2010 at 5:35 AM ^

Getting 5 out of the next 6 isn't going to be as easy as it seems:

Nebraska-Omaha is 11-2-2 at home this year, and while I wouldn't really consider it a "rivalry", we are far and away the team they hate the most (it's not hard to see if you spend a little time on MavPuck.com).

Northern has a tendency to come on strong at the end of the year. The past two years Northern had a slow first half, then got hot in the second half and had impressive showings at the Joe after upsets on the road in the second round of the CCHA playoffs. The past two weekends, they've gotten 10 out of a possible 12 points in conference play against teams in the top half in the standings.

Notre Dame has been pretty disappointing this year, but some teams really bring the fire trying to be a spoiler when they themselves are out of contention, especially against a rival.

mfan_in_ohio

February 10th, 2010 at 7:43 AM ^

We are quite a ways behind the next team in rpi, and I don't know if even winning 5 of 6 is going to be enough without some help. Also, our sub-.500 record against teams under consideration doesn't help, and our remaining schedule only has two more games against those teams, plus whatever happens in the tournament. Assuming we either lose the final or win the consolation game, and sweep NMU next week (big assumptions), that still leaves us barely above .500 against TUC, so if we don't make up a lot of ground in rpi, we can't move up in the pairwise.

aaamichfan

February 10th, 2010 at 8:34 AM ^

If Hogan steps up his level of play, this team is capable of making it to the Frozen Four.

As it stands right now, the team lacks enough pure scorers to consistently equalize the 2-3 questionable goals Hogan allows each game. For Michigan to have any chance of making and preforming well in the NCAA tourney, they need better play from the goalie position.

BigBum

February 10th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^

I agree with your assessment on the goalie situation. He allows too many rebounds and too many soft goals.

I would like to add that the Power Play needs to pressure more and be more consistent as well.

I honestly do feel they can make a run with these improvements.

gobluerulz

February 10th, 2010 at 8:58 AM ^

The defense is going to have to show up to play every night. Hogan stepping up would be a bonus. If this happens we should be able to take 5 of 6 without much of a problem.

saveferris

February 10th, 2010 at 9:11 AM ^

The frustrating part is that this team seems to be doing just enough to stay on the outside of the bubble right now. They had a chance in the past month to really make a statement against Alaska, FSU, MSU & Wisconsin and they only managed to go 3-3-1 in that span. If we had picked up an extra win and a tie (and we could have damnit!), I'd be feeling a LOT more confident right now. Even with a strong finish, Michigan probably needs to make it to the CCHA Finals to have a ensure themselves a spot.

Now I know that sounds pessimistic, but I just bought Frozen Four tickets, so I still have faith in Red and the fellas. Go BLue!

Srock

February 10th, 2010 at 11:33 AM ^

A top 4 finish in the CCHA and a Finals apperance "should" be good enough to get them over the hump and into the NCAAs. It's funny, I've always liked the Pairwise - no BS from the selection committee like in hoops - everyone knows how to make the ice dance based on the Pairwise. But this year, this is the year UM would need a little "help" from the committee. Just like Arizona Hoops got last year to make the Dance - kept their 23+ year streak alive and they actually made a bit of noise. UM has proved two things this year #1 - they can beat anyone (ok maybe not Miami) and #2, we can lose to anyone. Look at GA and GF, we are near the top of the league and also have the 2nd highest win total in league play, but are fighting for NCAA life as we give up goals (er, late in the 3rd) at the wrong times.