bad defense

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

What just happened (TL;DR): Michigan and Minnesota play a even, sloppy first period to a 2-2 tied. Then, the Gophers tallied three straight times on the power play to take a commanding lead in the second. The third period was nugatory (thanks, Craig). Jake Barczewski was pulled. Michigan’s offense created bupkis all evening. Minnesota came ready to play Michigan and straight up zamboni’d the Wolverines.

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Forward Notes.

-After a first period that was mostly even across the board (sans maybe goaltending), Minnesota pretty much shut down Michigan and then outworked, outskated, and outplayed the Wolverines. They shut down their own House (and really defensive zone) for the remaining two periods. While the penalties helped in the second, I’m not sure there was really an argument about any of them. The Gophers were clearly the better team, and they finished their chances, taking advantage of a poor goaltending performance in Michigan’s net.

-Garrett Schifsky scored on a rocket of a shot, as he flew down the slot after a Gopher DZTO. That was a legit snipe, beating Justen Close on the glove side. He also created a couple more chances in the third period, including a breakaway. Schifsky has continued to look like a player as the season has progressed. It probably didn’t hurt that it was his first game back in his home state since coming to Michigan.

-I don’t really have anything to say about any other forward on the ice. I honestly didn’t really notice anyone else being particularly dangerous…especially when the game was in doubt. That’s a real bummer to say coming off of Michigan’s only conference sweep at Yost with third place in the Big Ten still on the line…let alone an NCAA Tournament birth. The team better come ready to play on Saturday or else it will be quite an embarrassing weekend.

Defense Notes.

-Ethan Edwards didn’t play, and the Wolverines really missed his skating and puck movement. They struggled in their own zone way too often. No one looked very fleet of skate at all. One of the speedier teams in all of college hockey looked very slow and plodding for most of the night. Minnesota eventually took advantage, and Michigan never really responded.

-Last week (and even going back a few games prior), Michigan’s defense had improved noticeably. Friday night…it was a reversion to a previous iteration. Obviously not having Edwards made an impact, but Steve Holtz again looked out of place. Luca Fantilli was up and down. I honestly didn’t notice Tyler Duke at all. Not great.

-Where is Seamus Casey? All season, he’s been Michigan’s most consistent skater and scorer. He now has one point (a secondary assist) in his last eight games. Tonight, he took two obvious penalties, leading to Minnesota goals. He’s not really looked like himself in the offensive end: skating, probing, making dudes look slow. Michigan needs their puck maestro to return…and fast!

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

What just happened (TL;DR): In a much more wide open game, Michigan’s puck management in their own zone left a lot to be desired and it cost the Wolverines. The Spartans capitalized on poor defensive zone play by their counter-parts, grabbed a 3-1 lead, and then held on down the stretch. Trey Augustine is the best goalie I’ve seen this season. There’s a reason he was drafted so high, and he did it once again to Michigan in Detroit, stopping 36 of 38 shots.

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Forward Notes.

-Michigan created chances, again, getting almost 40 shots. They just couldn’t solve Trey Augustine, again. I don’t have the xG or shot charts, but I didn’t think their dangerous looks were as numerous as previous games against MSU. Augustine was obviously very good, but he didn’t have to go into Hero Mode, start flashing his cape. Michigan State has played Michigan better each time they faced them this season…a little reminiscent of how Michigan adjusted to Ohio State last season.

-Alex and I had a texting debate about the top line. Should Michigan stick with them or break them up to create a little jump and depth? They weren’t their best on Saturday by any means. During our conversation, Rutger McGroarty hit Gavin Brindley on the back post for a goal. Just kinda funny. It will be interesting to see what Michigan does with the Hero Line after this weekend.

-I don’t have a ton more to say. Trey Augustine bailed out the MSU defense better than Jake Barczewski bailed out Michigan’s defense. Augustine is really good.

Defense Notes.

-There’s just no way around it anymore. Michigan just gives the puck away too much in their own zone. It’s definitely been worse than tonight, but it’s honestly just not good enough. The D-zone puck management needs to be cleaned up imminently. All of the goals were caused by faulty defensive plays (Jake Barczewski did factor a bit on the third, too).

-Michigan has a lot of pieces and quality players…but if they want to start reaching their ceiling and have a shot of hanging anything at all in the rafters…or just making the NCAA Tournament, they just have to stop turning the puck over in their own zone. That’s it. I have nothing more to say.

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

What just happened (TL;DR): In a pretty even game, Michigan blew leads of 1-0, 3-2, 4-3, and 5-4. They had chances to run and hide with the game, but just could not get it out of reach. Once again, they score five goals, and once again it is not enough. They do get 4 points on the weekend, but again, they cannot finish it out, grabbing all 6.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-This was a pretty even game across most of the metrics that I have. I did think that Michigan created a ton of really good looks that Kyle McClellen saved in the last couple of periods. He did give up a couple of 5 Hole goals, but he took a ton of Grade A shots away from the Wolverines. Multiple lines were getting very good chances and he made enough saves. It’s hard to fault Michigan’s even strength chances and creations aside from the fact that they just did not beat McClellan…other than those two times, ha!

-Josh Eernisse scores one of the 5 Hole goals after Kienan Draper and Philippe Lapointe created and chance on a rush. It wasn’t the most impressive goal, but it also wasn’t the only scoring chance that line created. Kienan Draper has started to become a playable piece. It didn’t look like he should be on the ice last year. This year, that isn’t true anymore. He’ll probably never be a Top 6 guy at Michigan, but he’s got a nice future if he keep developing.

-The Hero Line strikes again. Gavin Brindley grabs three assists. Frank Nazar gave the Wolverines their last lead in the third period, scoring the other even strength 5 Hole goal after a slick Rutger McGroarty pass. Brindley gambled and lost and gave up the Grade A chance in OT. Nazar also didn’t get back on the 2v1. Overall, though, this line has done it’s share of pulling the sled.

Defense Notes.

-That was not exactly the same performance as last night…at all. The first period was super sloppy in their own end and in transition. Michigan also just could not close out the game on defense. As stated above, the Wolverines had four leads (sure, one goal), and blew all of them. After looking like a team ready for a tournament run (again) on Friday night, they did not look like it on Saturday. The offense did their job, again, but the defense could not keep the puck out of their House…or their net.

-Ethan Edwards give up a pizza in his own slot for Quinn Finley’s opening goal. Edwards also missed an open net in the first period to extend the lead. Frank Nazar didn’t start his transition early enough and couldn’t catch Mathiew de St Phalle on the Badgers’ third goal. Nobody pressed the perimeter on the fifth goal in the third period. That’s just not good enough if you want a sweep.

-Seamus Casey and Tyler Duke did get diagonaled on the second goal, but Seamus Casey did make up for it with a couple of assists. He set up both power play goals. Tyler Duke also grabbed and assist on the third goal.