GBMWolverine: Michigan Hockey — Wolverines Heads North To Alaska — Preview

Posted at 6:00am — 12/2/20011

GBMWolverine: Michigan Hockey — Wolverines Heads North To Alaska — Preview

#19 Michigan (7-7-2, 3-5-2-1 7th CCHA) vs. Alaska Nanooks (6-8-2, 3-7-2-0 9th CCHA)
11:05 p.m. EST Friday 12/2 & Saturday 12/3. Carlson Center, Fairbanks, AK.
TV: None.

The Wolverines continue their free-fall by being routed at home by Northeastern 4-1 and by Union 6-3. Michigan is 0-5-1 in their last six, their worst slide since the 1998-99 season where they went 0-4-4. The Maize and Blue hope to re-group by taking the 3,000 mile journey to Alaska for the only regular season meetings of the season with the Nanooks. Michigan holds a 41-9-1 all time advantage and enjoys a 17-5 mark in Fairbanks. The Wolverines were 3-1 last season against the Nanooks and have won 4 of the past 6 games with one game ending in a shootout loss.

Rewinding Michigan’s Previous Action:
The Wolverines were out muscled and outworked by a big, physical Hockey East team from Boston last Friday. Michigan received a gratuitous goal to start the game but could not generate any more offense. Travis Lynch broke down the right wing and fired an innocent shot that escaped the Northeastern goaltender for a 1-0 lead after one period. The Huskies tied the game on a PPG after a clear and a slow line change. The Huskies net-minder (Chris Rawlings) forwarded the puck to a waiting forward at the Michigan blue line and he went in 2×1. The Northeastern duo finished a fine passing play to tie the score. The Huskies struck the fatal blow with just seconds remaining in the second period, as a Northeastern forward broke in on the right wing and slid a shot that Shawn Hunwick steered with the paddle of his stick to a wide open Huskie who slammed the rebound home. Northeastern struck for two third period goals on odd man rushes as Michigan was pinching their defensemen in to create offense.

Last Sunday Michigan entertained the Union Dutchmen in their first ever meeting. The Wolverines controlled the play for the first eight minutes but could not break the scoreless battle. The period unraveled after an ill advised penalty by David Wohlberg. Union put to use their 26% PP and scored an unassisted tally on a Michigan turnover, followed by another goal from a Wolverine defender’s turnover to jump out 2-0. They added another goal late in the period to stretch the lead to 3-0. Michigan did not threaten in the second and got stung by a pretty passing play by Union to make it a 4-0 lead. Phil Di Giuseppe got Michigan to 4-1 with a PPG and that is how the period ended. The Wolverines pressed hard in the third, but could not overcome the three goal deficit. Wohlberg cleaned up a puck laying the crease to cut the margin to 4-2 inside of the first five minutes of the period, but the penalty bug bit them again. (Michigan was penalized seven times during the course of the game compared to only three for the Dutchmen.) Union made good on their chance and then struck again within a minute of their fifth goal to stretch the lead to 6-2. Chris Brown scored an apparent goal with eight minutes to go, but it was waived off due to a Union player lifting the net off of the moorings. He was not penalized for it either much to the frustration of the Michigan faithful. Alex Guptill closed the gap to 6-3 with a few minutes left on a breakaway effort, but that was the end for Michigan.

Scouting the Nanooks:
Alaska is struggling this season in many areas of their game and is eager to welcome the Wolverines-a team that is floundering not just struggling- into town. It always seems that no matter what type of team the Nanooks put together, they always manage to give the Wolverines fits in Fairbanks- at least in the past couple of years.

Alaska has stumbled out of the gate, but really hasn’t played too poorly- just inconsistent. The only exception was a six goal shutout loss to Ohio State in Columbus, which followed a shootout victory the night before. Otherwise, they have played Notre Dame in South Bend to two one goal losses (one in OT) and rebounded to beat WMU in a shootout following a three goal home loss. They also dropped two 2-1 losses to Miami which seemed to kick start the RedHawks recent run. The Nanooks’ biggest victories this season were in Alaska, though- beating former CCHA member UNO in a tournament and splitting a pair of games with Ferris State on home ice. Last weekend they went into Bowling Green and shut out the Falcons two nights in a row to come into the Michigan series full of confidence.

The questions that surround the slow start are easy to see once you look at the schedule Alaska has started the season with, and the nominal play of their defense and goaltending- the two areas that are usually the hallmark of Nanook hockey in the recent past. Senior Scott Greenham is a huge goaltender that, to his own admittance, is having an average campaign. He is 5-7-2 with an ordinary 2.20 GAA and .906 save %. Senior Scott Enders (0-5-5, +7) doesn’t add much offense from the blue line, but is the Nanooks steadiest influence on defense. Fellow senior defender Aaron Gens (0-6-6, -3) adds a bit more offense but is struggling on the defensive end. The offense is not potent, but has experience and a dangerous core group with senior forward Carlo Finucci (3-9-12), junior Nik Yaremchuk (7-4-11) and junior Andy Taranto (5-4-9). A pair of sophomores are tied with Funucci for the team points lead: Colton Beck (6-6-12) and Cody Kunyk (5-7-12).

Alaska enters play this weekend only averaging 2.19 GPG (49th) nationally. Conversely, their defense is 13th best at 2.31 GPG. The devil is in the details, though- as I pointed out, one night the Nanooks are yielding 0-2 goals and the next they are giving up 4-6 goals. Alaska has been a sticky team defensively in the past, but also very disciplined. This season, however, Alaska is averaging 13.4 PIM (31st) which isn’t too bad until you look at their PK, which is at 81.3%- 31st. The PP isn’t any better where they are only converting at 11.8% or 50th in the nation. (Of course, Michigan played a similarly challenged team in Northeastern last weekend and still gave up a PPG.) The bottom line is, if the Nanooks get behind, it is tough for them to come back and conversely, if they find their offense it is difficult to mount a comeback on them. Their inconsistency has prevented them from counting on either aspect of their offense or defense to click on consecutive nights.

Charting The Wolverines:
Michigan’s frustration is mounting and the adversity of the winless streak was quite apparent in the body language displayed last weekend. The boys are working hard but need their upper class leadership to emerge and start making the difference in games. The trip to Alaska is a perfect opportunity to get away from the pressures on campus- fans, friends, family, classmates- and settle into regroup mode. I am going to boldly proclaim that they will find themselves this weekend and work out the issues that have plagued them for the last month.

AJ Treais (6-7-13) (who missed last Friday’s game ill), Chris Brown (4-9-13) and Lindsay Sparks (5-8-13) are tied for the offensive lead for the Wolverines. Sparks has disappeared offensively and, despite his speed, has been a nonfactor the last month. Brown was the most philosophical about the slump in stating that “adversity doesn’t define character, it reveals it.” He added that the team needs to battle through this (slump) to reveal who they really are and that he believes that they will- they are a good team and will go on a run of their own. His own play has been an example of that- and ironically he leads all Wolverines in points against Alaska with 3-4-7 in seven games.

Freshman Phil DiGiuseppe was the lone bright spot last weekend according to coach Red Berenson and is leading his class at 7-5-12. Right behind him, though, is emerging sniper Alex Guptill (7-4-11) who has been on a goal scoring tear. Defenseman Mac Bennett is also tied with the forwards for points with 3-10-13 and fellow blueliner Lee Moffie holds steady at 11 points.

Shawn Hunwick has been average as of late, but has gotten little defensive support in front of him. He is 7-6-2 with a 2.48 GAA and a .916 save %. He is 2-0 versus Alaska with a 1.50 GAA and a .961 save %.

Expectation:
I say again, going to Alaska is a grueling trip that, although tiring, serves the team well in their bonding. This will be the Wolverines final trip to Fairbanks unless Michigan has to journey there for the CCHA playoff s or if they are placed in the Nanooks’ cluster next season. Just the same, the adjustment to the travel, the Olympic ice surface and the extreme cold usually does not lend well to visiting teams. Michigan must play a simpler game, emphasizing defense from the goaltender to each forward. The penalties must be reduced and the desire to win battles- something that has been lacking- must return. The season hangs on the balance and this series will be the turning point. Alaska is a good team especially at home but is just as vulnerable. I expect a split, but will boldly predict that Michigan comes home with more than three points.

Friday: 3-3 tie (Michigan earns the shootout win) Saturday: Michigan 2-1 win

Yost Bits:

-Yost fans NOTE: please be aware that State Street will be closed for two weeks at Stimson/ Stadium Blvd. due to reconstructing the Stadium Blvd. bridge that goes over State. Anyone that uses Crisler arena parking is advised to take Main Street to Stadium Blvd. to access parking lots. This will impact the traffic for the MSU game on 12/9. Stadium Blvd. will be closed east of Crisler Arena until next November.

-Phil DiGiuseppe was named to the Canadian World Junior tryout camp in an attempt to win a roster spot for the annual holiday tournament. He will most likely miss next weekend’s game at MSU on December 10th.

-Michigan received letters of intent from the six person class of 2016 last week. The class is highlighted by goaltender Jared Rutledge who will most likely assume the duties next season. Rutledge is a highly regarded goaltender on the USNDT. Defenseman Jacob Trouba is also a jewel in the class, as he is regarded a sure NHL first round top ten pick. Asst. Coach Billy Powers describes Trouba as a big imposing defender that lays out big hits, that steps up in the rush and will also quarterback the PP. He compares him to former Wolverine Jack Johnson. Forward Boo Nieves is a slick scoring waterbug that should excite fans. Connor Carrick, Daniel Milne and Justin Selman complete the class.

-Merrill musings: Big Jon is hanging out at Yost arena these days for games, and is practicing with the team. Coach Berenson was approached recently about the timetable for his return and his response was that there is a time when he will be evaluated as far as re-joining the lineup, but that time is not now. The decision is said to be exclusively in Berenson’s hands since Merrill has served the mandated suspension laid out by Michigan’s athletic office. Look for Merrill to be dressed come January, pending final evaluation with AD David Brandon.

– Michigan returns home next weekend for a home and home series with arch-rival MSU. This will be the final series before the holiday break leading to the GLI and a date with Boston College.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — YostMeister

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