Michigan Hockey ‘17-18, Game #38: Michigan 3, Northeastern 2

Submitted by David on

Cooper Marody played like a Hobey Baker finalist [James Coller]

OFFENSE

 

Corsi

House

Possession %

First Period

23 6 55%

Second Period

24 8 71%

Third Period

15 5 50%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

62 19 58%

Analysis: Awesome. This was a wonderful output of offense from Michigan. The Wolverines consistently got into the House and created chances from all over the ice. While it was a tight game, the main reason that is stayed that way was Cayden Primeau. He made about 5-6 fantastic saves. Otherwise, there is a good chance Michigan hangs a couple more on the possession-starved Huskies.

The DMC line went head-to-head with the top scoring line in the country and hung a –3 on them. I’ll get more into the defense in the next section, but Cooper Marody danced throughout the offensive zone and connected with Calderone and Dancs on numerous occasions. Cooper’s first goal was a circling blind shot that snuck in short-side. Dancs added a soft goal to retake the lead, as he shot from a poor angle and was still able to deflect it off of Primeau and inside the far post. Marody’s game winner came from just outside the crease off of a deft dish from Tony Calderone, who had driven the wing and gotten to the goalline.

FWIW, the Slaker-Norris combination could have also had a couple of goals, themselves…including Norris missing a WIDE OPEN net from just under the dot. The Pastujovs-Becker line also created some havoc. Northeastern has a great scoring line, yet couldn’t always get them the puck in the offensive end. Michigan identified that and exploited it all night.

[After THE JUMP: come for the offense, stay for the defense (!). And special teams. And goaltending]

It can be very difficult to explain the difference Hughes makes sometimes [Coller]

DEFENSE

 

Corsi

House

Possession %

First Period

19 6 45%

Second Period

10 3 29%

Third Period

15 6 50%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

44 15 42%

Analysis: While the offense turned in a masterful performance, the defense was not far behind them. The DMC line attacked the Gaudette line and the Wolverine backend held them in check…and kept them away from the net. A line that normally tears through opposing defenses was mostly kept out of the House and near the perimeter.

In the second period, the Huskies registered three shots on net, one of them on a breakaway and another courtesy of the power play. Michigan kept sticks in passing lanes and won battles on the boards. After a couple of sloppy shifts early, DZTOs were severely limited and the transition to the forwards was smooth.

Also, Quinn Hughes is such a difference-maker. He will still lose the puck in his own zone or try just a little too much every now and then, but OMG can he skate. Watching him transition out of the defensive end and then create a scoring chance in the offensive end is a thing of beauty. The Husky goal was a shot from the boards then snuck through a screen and beat Lavigne. Those will happen. Michigan did get a little lucky as Northeastern shot wide a few times from looks in the House. Altogether, though, Michigan had a great gameplan to attack the top Husky line and executed it very well.

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

PP For

PP Against

PP Corsi For

PP Corsi Against

PP Shots/Min For

PP Shots/Min Against

First Period

n/a 0/1 n/a 3 n/a 1

Second Period

0/.5 1/1 2 1 1 1

Third Period

0/.5 n/a 1 n/a n/a n/a

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

0/1 1/2 3 4 .5 1

Analysis: Adam and I both said in our previews that if Michigan takes three or fewer penalties, we’d like their chances. They took two. The first Husky power play generated a couple of shots but nothing too dangerous. Michigan actually looked solid on that penalty kill. On their second man disadvantage, Northeastern scored on their first attempt. Granted, it was a great setup, with a cool pass to Sikura below the dot. Lavigne had no chance. They can go further in the tournament if they only surrender two power plays.

Michigan had one power play and generated a couple of nice looks but nothing close to Grade A. If the tournament is called rather loosely, it is definitely a plus for Michigan…and if their power play can contribute anything, it will only be a bonus. Michigan’s best hope is even-strength, though, obviously.

Just Everyday Steady Eddie from Lavigne, tonight [Bill Rapai]

GOALTENDING

 

Shots Faced

Shots from House Faced

First Period

11 3

Second Period

3 2

Third Period

8 3

Overtime

n/a n/a

TOTAL

22 8

Analysis: Hayden Lavigne played well. Honestly though, there was not a ton on which to grade him. He did make a huge save on a breakaway in the second period. Michigan’s defense mostly kept Northeastern out of the House, so Lavigne only had to make the one crucial breakaway save. There were a couple of instances where he left a rebound in an undesirable location, but those were few and far between.

Lavigne did draw the benefit of a couple of positive bounces off of the iron. He had no skating or puck-handling gaffes, as had become a recent concern. He also held his positioning well and managed the shots he was given. The goal was most likely due to a screen that originally was thought to have been tipped. The goal was given to the shooter, though, and upon replay viewing, it was proven to be correct. Could Lavigne have saved it? Maybe? Those goals are going to happen, though. He also had no chance on the power-play goal.

ODD-MAN RUSHES

Defense

Rushes

Advs

Escape%

Offense

Rushes

Advs

Scoring%

1st Period

1 3v2 100%   n/a n/a n/a

2nd Period

1 1v0 100%   1 3v2 0%

3rd Period

1 3v2 100%   1 3v2 0%

OT

n/a n/a n/a   n/a n/a n/a

Total

3 3v2 x2, 1v0 100%   2 3v2 0%

Analysis: Michigan gave up three OMRs tonight. All of them were dangerous, and they were fortunate to get through them unscathed. Jake Slaker made a dive to deflect a shot from a 3v2 with his skate. Hayden Lavigne made a nice save on an unlucky breakaway after the puck slipped between Cecconi and Hughes. Lastly, Sikura’s shot on a final 3v2 went wide. One unlucky breakaway and two defensemen back on the other two OMRs is not the worst outcome, though.

Michigan generated a couple of 3v2s, as well. The first was on their power play that led to a shot going wide from Dexter Dancs. The latter was a Hughes-led rush that ended up near Porikos, but he could not pull the trigger.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Michigan 62(19), Northeastern 44(15)

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Michigan 59, Northeastern 42

Comments

lhglrkwg

March 25th, 2018 at 9:53 AM ^

the last 5 year's of Red felt like we were just going up there and trying to out talent and out score people like we were doing our best impression of Texas Tech or Richrod's Michigan football