100% crippling fetal terror

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

What just happened (TL;DR): In a game that Michigan mostly controlled at even strength, garnering many more dangerous chances that Penn State, it took extra hockey to decide it. Mackie Samoskevich strode into the zone, curled into the high slot and sniped a game-winner above Liam Souliere, who played the game of his life. Michigan had great chances all evening, but just could not both beat Souliere and get the chance on frame. Each team tallied on the power play to get the game to OT. Then, it was Mackie Time…

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-While the even strength corsi attempts are relatively even, the eye test says that the dangerous chances mostly favored Michigan. They also got many more attempts on frame. Penn State got most of their best looks in transition (more later). The Wolverines were dangerous from the drop, creating a Grade A chance on the first shift. While they did struggle at times, the game felt like Michigan left plenty of goals on the table. Perhaps, when the Dentists left town on Friday, they stole Michigan’s regulation finishing.

-Alex mentioned early…and it never really changed –the Adam Fantilli line was just dominant. Between Adam, Rutger McGroarty, and Gavin Brindley, the Wolverines just pummeled Penn State’s defense, turning they over in zone, cycling to hold possession, and even pushing them back to get chances in transition. It seemed like they generated a Grade A chance every other time they were on the ice. They just could not finish like they did on Friday. That’s hockey. 

-Mackie Samoskevich now has a place as a Michigan Legend getting the first Wolverine NCAA Tournament OT game-winner since Tyler Motte in 2016.

Defense Notes.

-Overall, I thought Michigan’s in-zone defense was really good. All three pairings generally kept the Ice Lions to the perimeter and rarely allowed a Grade A chance that put Erik Portillo on the spot. Jay Keranen and Ethan Edwards both made very nice plays in their own end all night. Obviously there were occasional breakdowns, but, again, that’s hockey. If the team plays that kind of defense against a high scoring unit, Michigan’s chances for getting more victories this season increase tremendously.

-This was not Luke Hughes best game. While he did do well moving the puck and getting across lines, he also had a few brutal turnovers that lead to some OMRs going the other way. He also played a role on the goal allowed, failing to get a clear, and then not picking up the rebounder after Portillo came out to make the original save. Luke has had a number of dazzling moments in Maize and Blue and had games that dragged a struggling Michigan team to victories. This game was a little further down the list, though.

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

What just happened (TL;DR): This game was close in score for a period, but Michigan still dominated. Then, the dam broke open in the second, and Michigan gave Colgate’s net major fillings on repeat. The Wolverines drilled seven goals in nine minutes to crown themselves winners of the opening round. After a third period spearmint spearing, the Wolverines power play capped three more times to set a NCAA Tournament record for goals. In an opening round that saw other Big Ten teams score 8, 8, and 9 goals, Michigan turned heads with double digits. #eyeballemoji

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-This was an absolute evisceration. Every. Single. Forward. for Michigan tallied at least a point. It was just a finishing clinic. The Wolverines momentarily shut it down at the end of the second period and beginning of the third or else they probably could have had more. An enraging penalty late in the game, re-ignited the Wolverines for more blood on the power play. Michigan showed their finishing ceiling when they have the puck in dangerous areas all night. Turns out, the ceiling is the roof.

-Michigan had NINE different goal scorers on Friday night. Nine. Adam Fantilli has two points and was nowhere near the offensive star of the game, lol. Depth scoring is always key in tournament runs, and the Wolverines certainly checked that box. Colgate nowhere near Michigan’s class on the ice, and dominating, scoring goals, and not letting up is what is necessary in those games. Michigan seems to be firing on all cylinders at just the right time.

-Seniors Nick Granowicz and Eric Ciccolini both skated in their first NCAA Tournament game and each scored a goal. That’s pretty cool.

Weclome to the Luke Show (David Wilcomes)

Defense Notes.

-The in-zone defense was fine. Colgate didn’t generate a whole lot in the offensive zone. That was also to be expected. When the game was tight (on the scoreboard, at least), Michigan did give away a few chances in transition. Luke Hughes had a couple bad giveaways early that gave the Flossers a few scoring chances. After the first period, though, the Wolverines tightened up on the backend and locked the game down.

-Luke Hughes tallied a five point night. LOL. He tallied a short-hand goal, power play goal, and three assists. Seamus Casey also tallied three assists. Four of Michigan’s seven defensemen tallied a point. It was a good night to be a puck-moving blueliner!

I had an entire post written about how Michigan blew up the early narrative of this game, which was LSU's incredible shot-making being too much to overcome for a Wolverines team missing their most reliable bucket-getter. When I went to hit submit, my still-shaking hands hit the wrong button, and I blew up my own post. This feels apropos.

So let's do the short version because my brain is still going AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH after one of the more fun, and therefore partisan nerve-destroying, games of the entire tournament. For most of the first half and a decent chunk of the second, it appeared that Cam Thomas and Javonte Smart would hit pullup jumper after pullup jumper, no matter how difficult, and LSU would do just enough on defense to pull off the upset.

Michigan refused to allow that to happen, grinding away a nine-point first-half deficit at the line after LSU's seventh foul to take an improbable 43-42 halftime lead. After Thomas opened 6/7 from the field, he closed 4/16 as Juwan Howard unleashed Chaundee Brown on him. Brown added a season-high 21 points, 14 after the break, to tie for the team lead with an inspired Eli Brooks, who drained 5/9 three-pointers.

Franz Wagner put the game out of reach at the end, hitting a hook, resetting for a three-pointer, dunking off a Hunter Dickinson outlet pass to break a press, putting back a Dickinson miss in traffic, and smothering a Thomas drive on the final Tigers possession with a sliver of hope. Nine of Wagner's 15 points came after halftime. Hunter Dickinson, who battled foul trouble in a poorly officiated game on both sides, managed an efficient 12-point, 11-board double-double in 31 minutes and did his usual bending of LSU's defense to open up the perimeter.

My narrative didn't survive the publishing process, which is how I refer to misclicks. Thankfully, Michigan's basketball team is much less shaky in the clutch. The Wolverines move on to their fourth Sweet Sixteen in a row and sixth in the last eight NCAA Tournaments. They'll face Florida State, convincing winners over Colorado this evening. Enjoy it as best as your nerves allow and be careful operating machinery.

[Hit THE JUMP for the box score.]