Michigan vs. Western CCHA Semifinal open thread
Ok kids, you know the drill. Michigan plays Western Michigan. The winner plays Miami for the Mason cup. The rundown shall commence:
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Michigan Hockey Net Live Blog: http://michiganhockey.net/
March 18th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
Western may have won anyway with the way we were playing, but that was piss poor officiating.
I really can't wait to be out of the CCHA. They call too many men on us and then a little while later, while Western is right in the middle of a change, the puck goes RIGHT to one of their guys coming off near center ice and they don't call anything. Western's defense got a great boost tonight by their ability to hold sticks with no call as well. Tack on a bogus delay of game that started it all with a 5 vs 3 and I'm not sure we ever stood a chance. Also loved the flop by their goaltender that earns them a crosschecking call (The way the game was going, I'm not surprised they gave a penalty for it, but at least make it something like hitting after the whistle instead of something he didn't actually do).
We didn't play great tonight, but it's kind of hard to imagine playing well when you're in a 3 goal hole made by absolutely abysmal officiating. That leds to Western getting two goals they actually earned while we're playing like crap, and the game is over.
Got to hand it to them, they did work hard tonight, and I've never seen any actual competition in terms of fans at the Joe before. I'm disappointed in the way we played, but at the same time I cannot ignore the fact that our play didn't go downhill until the refs started handing them power plays like trial-sized deodorants.
March 19th, 2011 at 12:25 AM ^
Competely agree. I remember in the 2nd period we were bringing up the puck towards the middle into WMU's zone. A Bronco hauls down our guy with a textbook trip right in front of the ref and jack crap is called. I know WMU has not been in the CCHA finals for 16 years, but come on, please call the game fairly.
With that said, that was the least amount of effort I have seen us play with since we were beat by Bowling Green over a year ago last season. We were lolly gagging into the zone just throwing pucks towards the net while WMU was diving towards shots and interrupting passes.
March 19th, 2011 at 12:27 AM ^
incredibly poorly. Incredibly so. After the first 5 minutes, then Western's first goal, for a while I thought we looked about as badly as we did the last time we were at the Joe, against State. As time passed, it quickly became apparent that it was just our worst game period. It was frankly embarrassing. When the second came and we still looked like crap, I expected Red to call a time out. When Western scored their second goal and we still looked like crap, I expected a time out. When Western scored their third goal and Hunwick threw a fit I couldn't believe Red didn't call a time-out and (or at least) put Hogan in.
Western was holding all over the ice tonight. All over the ice, all the time. Defensive game plan? Hold the crap out of Michigan. Offensive gameplan? Hold the crap out of Michigan. Neutral zone game plan? Hold the crap out of Michigan. Halfway through the second, even my friend, who knows very very little about hockey turned to me and asked about "The Western guy holding our guys' sticks... Is that legal?" But it went on all game, it was a frank travesty. Also, everytime they were near the boards and got hit, they would jump headfirst into the boards to draw a penalty. If you get hit in the stomach, generally your head isn't the first thing to fly backwards and it doesn't generall happen 2 or 3 seconds after you got hit. Unfortunately, it worked everytime, then Michigan stopped hitting, for fear of taking penalties and things went downhill from there. Brown deserved his penalty for cross-checking Kuhn, it was incredibly stupid. But Kuhn should have also gotten two for jumping onto his back like he'd just been shot. Several seconds after Brown hit him. Also, JUST before Western scored their first goal, Hunwick got elbowed in the face by the Western player screening him. Which is why he got mad at the refs and why Red sent out Rust (SUPER late, it was JUST before they dropped the puck) to talk to the refs.
I used to think it was an incredibly tragedy that Blashill didn't get Coach of the Year. Now I agree wholeheartedly with Jackson winning it.
All the horrid officiating, all the worse play by Michigan, all the holding by Western and still, Michigan probably could have eked out a win, if Hunwick hadn't let in those two squeakers and Kuhn missed one of a couple of really nice saves. Really makes you appreciate Michigan. Also, the good news is, we're still in the tournament, we can even still get a one seed (if Merrimack and Denver do not win their respective conferences, we win tomorrow and Miami loses tomorrow, I believe we're still 4th in the PWR). If not, we probably will stay out of the overall 4th/5th seed potential match-up with Miami in the regional, at least.
And does anybody know what's up with Burlon? He didn't play today and I thought Red said on his radio show on Tuesday that everbody was healthy? If he doesn't return soon, that's a big blow...
March 19th, 2011 at 12:34 AM ^
Burlon was sick. He had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics he was on.
March 19th, 2011 at 12:39 AM ^
It sounds like he'll be fine for NCAA's, but any idea his availibility for tomorrow's game?
March 19th, 2011 at 12:47 AM ^
no clue. we need all the help right now at the blue line.
man...I am still peeved about this game...i can get over a loss quickly most times, but tonight I cannot get over the poor effort and one sided officiating.
Being at the game was so rough. First of all, Michigan did not play with any desperation what so ever. Not having Wohlberg hurt a lot because Michigan did not play with the physicality that he normally has. Defense was lathargic. Second, the Western fans were just fucking obnoxious. My ears and my soul got jail-sexed harder than Mr. Hands got pumped by that horse...that eventually killed him.
March 19th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
I guess they also called MSU because if it wasn't for fans actually at the game, I would have sworn I was at Munn when Miami's band played pretty much the exact song back as MSU Friday night during the earlier game.
but yeah almost every band plays Let's Go "Blue, purdue, Sioux, insert your school name/mascot/color here".