Michigan Hockey 17-18, Game #15: Michigan 4, Michigan State 0

Submitted by David on

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Some of Tony Calderone’s fine work (Bill Rapai)

OFFENSE

 

Corsi

House

Possession %

First Period

17 3 71%

Second Period

14 5 70%

Third Period

19 10 56%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

50 18 64%

Analysis: Michigan overpowered an under-talented MSU team, tonight. This was by no means a bombs-away performance, but they controlled the puck against a team that they should dominate. By the third period, Michigan was getting into the slot with ease. Tony Calderone had a day, netting a hat trick. The offense was driven, again, primarily by the top DMC line. This was a desired and expected result. Doing the same tomorrow night will be a good sign.

[After THE JUMP: Full House. On the stat sheet. Look, it's a thing in hockey stats, okay?]

DEFENSE

 

Corsi

House

Possession %

First Period

7 6 29%

Second Period

6 5 30%

Third Period

15 5 44%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

28 16 36%

Analysis: Through the first couple of periods, MSU had 13 even-strength attempts on net. That was on pace for the best defensive result for Michigan since I have been tracking their Corsi. Once they tallied a third goal, however, the game was done, and they could sit back and just protect against a meager Spartan attack. The interesting twist to these numbers is the percentage of even-strength attempts that MSU took from the House. While they didn’t overwhelm the Wolverines with volume, they did manage to sneak into the scary areas and get some looks at Lavigne. Michigan’s defense was good-not-great against a team that doesn’t take a lot of attempts. This is definitely what we were looking for tonight, with still a couple of areas for improvement. Also, 28 attempts on net is still very low.

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No goals but quite a few looks (Bill Rapai)

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

PP For

PP Against

PP Corsi For

PP Corsi Against

PP Shots/Min For

PP Shots/Min Against

First Period

0/1 0/1 4 3 1.5 1.5

Second Period

1/3 0/3 9 6 1.2(6/5) .66(2/3)

Third Period

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

Overtime

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

TOTAL

1/4 0/5 13 10 1.3 1

Analysis: Most of this game was played at even strength. However, Michgan did start taking a few penalties. Off the bat, MSU had a handful of good looks that generated most of their first period offense. They also had a 5v3 for a minute-plus that never seemed to generate a shot, despite having plenty of time and space. Michigan was able to draw a penalty to short-circuit that particular power play. The Wolverines took one last penalty with under a minute to go, but the game was decided by that point. On the man advantage, Michigan managed to generate quite a few good chances against a leaky MSU penalty kill. Despite not getting a goal, Michigan did average over a shot per minute, which is a good start. Lockwood probably should have had a goal from just outside the crease with a semi-open net, but the puck deflected over the net. Alas.

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Lavigne kept his net clean tonight (Bill Rapai)

GOALTENDING

 

Shots Faced

Shots from House Faced

First Period

7 5

Second Period

5 3

Third Period

9 4

Overtime

n/a n/a

TOTAL

21 12

Analysis: Hayden Lavigne started in net tonight and was great. He didn’t face a ton of shots, but the ones that he did face were generally from dangerous sports. He shut down a breakaway early on and also robbed a handful of point-blank looks. This was not your amazing 40-save shutout, but he held his positioning well and was equal to every shot he faced. This was a result that Michigan netminders have needed. I expect him to be in net tomorrow night in East Lansing.

ODD-MAN RUSHES

 

Rushes

Advantages

Escape %

First Period

1 1v0 100%

Second Period

n/a n/a n/a

Third Period

1 3v2ish 100%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

2 1v0, 3v2ish 100%

Analysis: The game did not start well as MSU had a breakaway to Hayden’s right side. The shot went short-side and Lavigne did a great job keeping his skate on the post, making the save. At the beginning of the 3rd, Michigan allowed another OMR, this time a 3v2 that kind of became a breakaway. Neither came back to haunt Michigan, but both ceded good looks on net. I guess there were only two, so yay.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Michigan 50(18), Michigan State 28(16)

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Michigan 48, Michigan State 26.

Comments

Wolverine Gator

December 8th, 2017 at 8:09 AM ^

These are some great writeups! I only have one suggestion. Could you include overall record and possibly B1G standings for those of us who don't follow closely enough to keep a tally? (Yes, I know I can go to other websites to go to that, but Walmart has made me lazy).

InterM

December 8th, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^

As you say, Michigan kept MSU to not many chances, but the few they had were good ones.  Lavigne didn't need to do much, but was strong when needed.  Compared to MSU, Michigan is an offensive juggernaut -- if there are any "dangermen" on MSU's roster, it wasn't evident last night.