CCHA Quarterfinals Update 3 - Semifinals Set

Submitted by hockeyguy9125 on

#7 Michigan swept #3 Western Michigan

#2 Notre Dame swept #9 Bowling Green

#11 Michigan State vs #1 Miami (Redhawks wins series 2-1)

- It was a very good effort by a team that was mostly an embarrassment for the entire season, but Miami took the best of three series with a 4-1 win in the deciding game against the Spartans. Michigan State will be losing sleep over five penalties to Miami in a row, that also included two 5x3's, and only converting once. Miami outshot MSU 35-19 and both teams converted once on the PP. Miami advances as the top seed back to Joe Louis Arena. Miami will make the NCAAs no matter what happens at Joe Lous this weekend, they are only going to be playing for seeding.

#5 Ferris State vs #4 Ohio State (OSU wins series 2-1)

- Ferris State dominated the shot clock and large portions of play during the game, but could not come away with a win in the deciding game three in Columbus. Ohio State overcame a 2-1 deficit to advance to the semifinals despite getting outshot 49-27. Ohio State cashed in twice on the PP while Ferris did not convert either of their chances. Last year's national finalists will not qualify for the NCAA Tournament. OSU advances to Joe Louis for the first time in seven years and looks to need to win the conference title to qualify for the NCAAs.

 

Semifinal Matchups at Joe Louis Arena on Saturday

#7 Michigan vs #1 Miami (just like in 2010, I have a good feeling about this)

#4 Ohio State vs #2 Notre Dame

Both games will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit +, times are TBD

BlockM

March 17th, 2013 at 10:07 PM ^

So I'm sure this will be covered on the front page at some point, but how do we match up against Miami and how did we fare against them earlier this season? (Realizing that we're essentially a different team at this point...)

I'm not a big hockey fan, but this time of year Michigan hockey really gets me excited.

saveferris

March 18th, 2013 at 9:59 AM ^

Split a home series with them the last weekend of October.  Won 4-2 in the Friday game and lost 4-3 in the Saturday game.  This was kind of the start of our 3 month slump that we didn't come out of until February.

With regards to our other potential opponents should we get past Miami; We beat the Buckeyes twice on their ice a month ago, 5-3 and 6-3.  The Irish have beaten us pretty soundly all 4 times we've faced them; 3-1 and 4-1 at Yost back in mid-November and then 7-4 and 6-4 in South Bend, marking our only losses since February.

Of the 4 teams in left in the CCHA, only Miami has a spot in the tourney locked up.  ND probably will assure themselves a spot if they advance to the Finals, especially if their opponent is Miami.  Michigan and Ohio are win or go home.

[EDIT:  My speculation on ND was probably overly pessimisstic as I neglected to take into account that with Michigan's sweep of Western over the weekend, they moved into TUC territory, which benefits the Irish greatly given their 4 wins over us.  ND is pretty much in now no matter what and they are playing for seeding, much like Miami.  The only other team that has a dog in this fight is Western as they are still on the bubble and will probably make it should neither Michigan nor OSU pull off the upset and win the CCHA tourney.]

mclub

March 18th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^

Racine gave up 3 goals both times he faced ND early in the season when Michigan was getting little offensive production.  He didn't play in the February series and is giving up 2.00 GAA in the last month. This should be a very competitive weekend.

I don' think ND is assured of anything without winning the tournament.  They jumped off the bubble last week, largely based on winning AND Michigan becoming a TUC (4-0), bringing their record to 9-9-3 against TUCs.  It is sort of a catch-22, if ND beats Michigan, there is a chance Michigan could fall out of TUC and drop ND's record to 5-9-3 against those teams hurting their at-large chances.

Sac Fly

March 18th, 2013 at 10:39 AM ^

Going through the simulations, the only way ND doesn't make the tourney is if the Irish and Michigan both lose in the semifinal game. That would push them past the cutoff for PWR. An Irish win and a Michigan loss, or an Irish loss and a Michigan win gets them in.

enlightenedbum

March 17th, 2013 at 10:18 PM ^

Games are Saturday/Sunday, 1 PM and 435 PM for the semifinals Saturday.  So assuming we win Thursday, we're rooting for a night game in the round of 32.  And preferably the early semifinal (which Miami should get, as the top seed for an extra three hours of rest).

hockeyguy9125

March 17th, 2013 at 11:16 PM ^

#1 Quinnipac is tied with Cornell in their best of three series, and tied in the deciding game 2-2...in the 2nd OT...they tied the game with under a minute to go, and have put 64 shots on goal

EDIT:  Quinnipac wins on a breakaway in 2OT