Oh, what a night…for Tony Calderone and his FOUR tallies [JD Scott]

OFFENSE

Analysis: This is by far the worst even-strength performance of the year. A lot can probably be attributed to the defense, but Michigan just could not keep the puck at all. They did generate some good looks when they could get it; Hayton did not come close to stealing this game. A bit of a spoiler, but if not for Michigan’s power play, they get absolutely run out of their own rink. Hughes did create some nice looks and Calderone was able to finish a garbage goal (his fourth!) midway through the third period, and Michigan hung on after that.

[Insanity ensues after THE JUMP]

This happend…a lot. It could easily have been on the defense, though [JD Scott]

DEFENSE

Analysis: Perhaps I’ll stop trying to preview things. I said Michigan had most of its defensive issues in check. Not tonight. Granted, Nick Boka didn’t play and Michigan definitely missed him. However, not only could Michigan not keep Wisconsin out of the House, they could barely get the puck out of their zone. Wisconsin packed the low slot and fired away from everywhere. It didn’t really matter which pairing was on the ice, Michigan’s breakout was as bad as it's been in the second half of the season. They gave pucks away left and right and chased Badgers all over the defensive zone. I doubt Boka plays tomorrow night, but the coaching staff is going to have to figure out what to do with Wisconsin’s forecheck because Michigan’s best clears were drawn penalties.

The scoring of the power play goals! [JD Scott]

SPECIAL TEAMS

Analysis: Michigan cannot take penalties, the end. That’s honestly all I should write here. They gave away three power plays tonight. All three of them were not good, either. Warren had a big hit that led to a five-minute major. Five straight minutes of penalty kill, regardless of number of goals scored. I’m honestly surprised that Michigan only gave up one in that span. Nick Pastujov gave away the next two. He got a post-whistle penalty (which led to another goal), and he grabbed a guy after over-skating him in the defensive zone. The last one was slightly more acceptable, but at that point, you might as well just let him go. This uber-passive box is just not working. Not only are they not preventing goals, they’re giving up fantastic looks from almost everywhere. If the Wolverines were just to burn the whole thing down and start over now, I cannot imagine it would get that much worse. The PK is unfortunately just that bad right now.

But, uh, that power play? Hahaha. Alright. Michigan scored on their first FOUR power plays. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen that in hockey, let alone from Michigan. Here’s the thing: they were great power plays! They moved the puck tremendously and got open shooters who hit open nets. Calderone tipped a Hughes shot; Hughes buried a rip from the point; Slaker finished a great pass from Piazza; and Calderone sniped a shot from the slot after a tremendous look from Hughes off of the boards. This power play looked like stuff the CCM line was doing a couple of years ago. It’s honestly the only reason Michigan was anywhere near the lead, out of their zone, or close to winning tonight. Michigan was down 3-1, dead in the water, overwhelmed, and then scored on four straight man advantages. Incredible. No one saw this coming at all. Regardless, major hat tip to that power play.

GOALTENDING

Analysis: Obviously Lavigne wasn’t helped by his defense a whole lot, but he had his own issues. I thought the fourth goal was definitely on him, despite it being on the power play. He looked like he was beaten near-post under his arm from outside the dot.

Wisconsin overwhelmed the crease and slot early on with shots and dudes. I know Lavigne couldn’t see the second one, but he didn’t control many rebounds and left a lot of pucks around which allowed the Badgers to get a lot of chances. They also missed the net a number of times. There were definitely some lucky breaks for Michigan in that regard.

After it was 3-1 (eight Badgers shots into the game), I was a little surprised that Pearson didn’t yank Lavigne. Not that everything was on him, but three goals on eight shots is pretty rough. He did seem to get better as the night went on, aside from the fourh goal. In the third, he started to find the puck more, freeze it, deflect it to corners. This is the guy. He played sloppy, he played better, and he hung on in the end.

ODD-MAN RUSHES

Analysis: Michigan gave up 3 OMRS, all 2v1s. Two were on special teams and one was at even strength. Lavigne made a great save on the second chance and a positional save on the third. The first chance went wide. There’s not a lot to take from it, as far as the defense is concerned, since only one was 5v5. One a list of things to address, I don’t thinking OMRs makes the top 2-3, right now.

On the other side, Michigan created a 2v1 a few minutes into the game and Marody found Calderone in the slot who buried his chance to give the Wolverines the lead. Marody also dished to Piazza in the 2nd, but Piazza hit Hayton’s chest.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Wisconsin 68(24), Michigan 28(16)

www.collegehockeynews.com had:  Wisconsin 64, Michigan 24

LOL