Michigan Hockey 17-18, Game #21: Michigan 5, Minnesota 3

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OFFENSE

 

Corsi

House

Possession %

First Period

9 1 41%

Second Period

12 3 50%

Third Period

14 6 42%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

35 10 44%

Analysis: After two games of outplaying a better team, Michigan definitely ceded the puck to Minnesota for the majority of this game. Ironic that this is the one of the last three games that they won. Two of their four non-empty netters were mostly luck. Michael Pastujov threw a puck into the slot and it was kicked back at Robson and between his pads. Warren’s first goal went off of his stick heel (after making a very nice break for the slot, though) and just inside the post. To be fair, Dancs picked a corner and Marody hid a nice snipe under the bar, though, for the first and third Michigan goals. Both Pastujovs are starting to look a little more dangerous, and I also thought Sanchez created some in the offensive zone. Now, if he can just not take silly penalties...

[After THE JUMP: insane penalty stats, woooo defense?]

Quinn Hughes is worth the price of admission (James Coller)

DEFENSE

 

Corsi

House

Possession %

First Period

13 3 59%

Second Period

12 7 50%

Third Period

19 5 58%

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

44 15 56%

Analysis: Maybe this defense thing is finally coming together? It got a little hairier toward the end of the game when Minnesota was pressing for their third and fourth goals, but Michigan still mostly kept the house area clear. They had a rough stretch in the first half of the second period, but again, no awful breakaways, and very few bad DZTOs. The Gophers aren’t exactly the scoring demons of years past, but they still win most of their home games and Michigan mostly had to put the puck on a silver platter for the hosts to take advantage. The first goal could be on Cecconi for giving too much room to Mittelstadt, but it looked like the puck came off of his stick unsettled. Its not a great defense yet, but three games in a row (all on the road) with nothing burning in your memory is something to cheer.

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

PP For

PP Against

PP Corsi For

PP Corsi Against

PP Shots/Min For

PP Shots/Min Against

First Period

0/1 0/1.5 n/a 6 n/a .33

Second Period

0/1 1/1.5 n/a 3 n/a 1

Third Period

n/a 0/2 n/a 1 n/a .25

Overtime

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

TOTAL

0/2 1/5 n/a 10 n/a .5

Analysis: Michigan had two power play attempts. They managed zero attempts at the net. This cannot continue. (Ok, Calderone got free once in the slot and fired a nice shot only to have Dexter Dancs block it, therefore nullifying its status as an attempt on net.)

Michigan killed four of their five penalties tonight and actually raised their PK rate. I remember one of their kills looking comfortable and in control (I believe their fourth). Honestly, the first couple looked a bit like a slap fight. Minnesota hadn’t scored a power play goal since December 2nd. The Gophers had plenty of zone time and looks, but then would make a silly pass or just…not take a shot. Finally, they were able to capitalize off of a flubbed rebound. Neither unit was overly impressive, but Michigan just cannot take any/many penalties until they can figure something out on the penalty kill.

*Five of Michigan’s six penalties were either in the offensive zone or after the whistle.*

GOALTENDING

 

Shots Faced

Shots from House Faced

First Period

9 2

Second Period

10 8

Third Period

8 3

Overtime

n/a n/a

TOTAL

27 13

Analysis: So, this game became a typical Hayden Lavigne game for me. He had two bad gaffes that lead to the second and third goals and then looked pretty good outside of those. On the second goal, he flubbed a rebound that looked under control far enough away that it was shot past him. For the third goal, there was a centering pass that came near the crease, Lavigne sort of bumped it out into the slot and an unchecked McManus skated right in and shot into an open net. Both of those goals seemed sloppy to me. He played pretty well last weekend and this was a great chance to grab the net for himself, but I don’t think that happened tonight. He did make a handful of fantastic saves and was under siege for minutes at a time, but those couple of costly misdirects still leave enough to be desired. My vote is for JLF tomorrow night.

Brendan Warren broke his goalless streak with a pair (Patrick Barron)

ODD-MAN RUSHES

 

Rushes

Advantages

Escape %

First Period

2 2v1, 4v2 100%

Second Period

1 3v2 100%

Third Period

n/a n/a n/a

Overtime

n/a n/a n/a

TOTAL

3 2v1, 4v2, 3v2 100%

Analysis: Michigan gave up three OMRs, and the got away with all of them. Ok, honestly? There could have been more. That game never stopped. Not only were there not many breaks, but the pace was ridiculous. I guess given all of the that, if there were only three OMRs surrendered, I will take it. I don’t think counting these in this type of game (unless they are egregious) provides any takeaways. I also tried to count offensive ones for Michigan. That did not go well either. Watching Michigan/Minnesota games on TV does not lend itself to that.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS

I had: Minnesota 44, Michigan 35

www.collegehockeynews.com had: Minnesota 45, Michigan 34

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