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Hockey: Michigan Travels to Minnesota

By Grant Dossetto

Feb 27, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of a hockey puck and referees skates during the game between the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers at the American Airlines Center. The Rangers defeat the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; A view of a hockey puck and referees skates during the game between the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers at the American Airlines Center. The Rangers defeat the Stars 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan hockey had last week off following a third place finish in the GLI. They get a tough test this weekend traveling to Minnesota.

This is the second time this year that Michigan has played on BTN on the road. The first time was in Happy Valley where they were routed by Penn State.

Past may prove prologue. Certainties in the Big Ten hockey season don’t include death or taxes. Michigan struggles in Happy Valley and Mariucci Arena.

Michigan is 1-5 against the Gophers in the regular season in Minnesota since the formation of the Big Ten conference on the road. They have been outscored by more than a goal per game.

Michigan’s lone win came last year and they beat Minnesota in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament which was held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Wolverines have to hope the demon is exorcised.

It won’t be easy. Michigan is not playing great hockey. 1-3 in the B1G with a split in the GLI have dropped UM to 35th in the Pairwise rankings. In the Big Ten, only Michigan State is lower. Minnesota, by contrast, is a top-10 team.

Even with the win over State at the Joe, Michigan continued its long streak of being outshot. Minnesota is fifth in the country in scoring offense. If they are allowed to control play, the Gophers have a lot of weapons to take advantage of those opportunities.

Mariucci is an Olympic sized ice sheet (200×100) and the Gophers use the extra room to their advantage. They are fast and skilled. Five players are averaging close to a point per game. That includes preseason watch list members forward Justin Kloos and defenseman Jake Bischoff.

Minnesota has been prodigious offensively but poor defensively. Goaltender Eric Schierhorn has not played up to standards with a save percentage of .894. Ohio State split in Minneapolis to open the Big Ten season but they scored 11 goals in two games.

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Can Michigan put up points like that? They notched five in their last game but it has not been the norm this year.

The Wolverines have gained center Cooper Marody who was academically ineligible the first semester. Marody had 10 goals and 24 points a year ago. He made his presence felt against State with three assists.

Senior Alex Kile put in two goals against State and showed glimpses in the shutout to Michigan Tech. Starting with the third period of the semifinal game Michigan finally showed some life offensively.

Leading scorer Will Lockwood is still out with a shoulder injury suffered against Wisconsin. The question for Michigan is a rejuvenated Kile, Marody, and Tony Calderone enough to cause a sustained increase in offensive production.

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It will have to be, at least for this weekend, if Michigan wants to get back into the Big Ten race on the road in a hostile environment.

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