GBMWolverine: Michigan Hockey -- Michigan at Ohio State -- Also Frozen Diamond Classic -- Part I

Posted at 6:00am — 1/13/2012

GBMWolverine: Michigan Hockey — Michigan at Ohio State — Also Frozen Diamond Classic — Part I

#13 Michigan (11-8-4, 6-6-4-1 7th CCHA) vs. #2 Ohio State (14-4-3, 10-3-3-1 1st CCHA)
7:35 p.m. Friday 1/13 (Columbus, Value City Arena)
5:05 pm Sunday 1/15 Cleveland, Progressive Field) Frozen Diamond Classic
TV: Friday — BTN — DirecTV Channel 610
TV: Sunday — FSD+/DirecTV Channel 664 — FSN Ohio/DirecTV Channel 660 … FSN Cin/DirecTV Channel 661
TV: Sunday — Replay on BTN — 9:00pm – 11:00pm

Michigan started the second half of the season with a 4-2 win and a less than satisfying 2-2 tie (shootout loss) against LSSU last weekend. It still extended the Wolverine’s unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2) and kept them in the thick of the CCHA race. Meanwhile, conference leader Ohio State was caught looking ahead a bit while at lowly Bowling Green and rallied with two goals in the last four minutes Friday to tie 2-2, then surrendered the lead with: 56 left to settle for a 1-1 tie Saturday (and lost the shootout both nights.)

The Buckeyes enjoy an eleven point bulge in the standings over the Wolverines and a seven point advantage over Notre Dame and Western Michigan. Four points separate second place and seventh place right now (although the Irish and Broncos have both played two less games.)

Michigan holds a 68-33-11 overall record against Ohio State, but dropped a pair of games in November to the Bucks at Yost arena. The Frozen Diamond Classic in Cleveland will mark the first outdoor collegiate game to be played in Ohio and will be the Bucks first neutral ice game of the season.

Rewinding Michigan’s Previous Action:

The Wolverines bounced the Lakers on Friday night 4-2 behind goals from Travis Lynch (breakaway) and David Wohlberg in the first period and Chris Brown in the 2nd and 3rd periods to seal the game. Goaltender Shawn Hunwick took a shot to the facemask (as well as several hard bumps in the game) and had to relinquish his duties after the second period. The Wolverines were leading 3-1 at the time. Sophomore Adam Janecyk spelled Hunwick admirably, allowing one goal in eight shots. The game was tenuous until Brown sealed it with an empty netter with: 12 left. On Saturday, the biggest question mark would be whether Hunwick would return- and he did not- suffering lingering affects from what is suspected to be concussion-like symptoms. Janecyk started the game and was blitzed with 13 first period shots, yet yielded nothing in a wide open period of play. Michigan jumped out on top when Wohlberg roared in from the left circle and banged a shot off of a defender’s skate to give Michigan a 1-0 lead. The Lakers tied in on a rebound (and poor coverage) less than four minutes later.

The Wolverine’s Alex Guptill restored the margin just: 13 later when he snapped a backhander from the high slot that also deflected off of a skate for a 2-1 lead. Just prior to the break, though, the Lakers defenseman Andrew Perrault (who had already served four minutes in penalties) cheap-shotted Guptill in the slot (slashed him high on the neck/head) and dropped Guptill to the ice. None of the four officials saw the play apparently as no penalty was called. Guptill had to leave the game. (The CCHA has subsequently announced a one game suspension to Perrault for his actions.) Michigan outshot the Lakers in the period 14-6 but clung to the one goal lead. The third period was completely LSSU’s, as they tied the game on a rebound just three minutes into the period. Janecyk was forced to make numerous good saves as the Lakers pumped 14 shots at him to only 5 shots at Laker net-minder Kevin Kapalka. The tide turned in OT, as Michigan spent much of the five minute session in the Laker end. The shot total was 4-3 in favor of Michigan, but many of the good opportunities were either fired wide or blocked. Michigan out-shot LSSU 37-36 for the game.

The shootout has been unkind to Michigan, as they struggled again to even get off quality shots against Kapalka. Luke Moffatt started it off well with a neat goal, deking right and firing left. LSSU missed their next two shots, as did Michigan, and needed to score on their third and final chance. Domenic Monardo connected to send it into extra rounds. Neither team scored until the sixth round when Laker Nick McParland beat Janecyk stick side to win the extra point. Michigan did take four of six points on the weekend, even if the shootout loss- Michigan’s third against one shootout win this season-was demoralizing.

Scouting the Buckeyes:

This isn’t your father’s Buckeye hockey squad. As a matter of fact, the Buckeyes have not been a major factor in the CCHA in some time, battling MSU in 1998 for conference superiority and in 2004-05 when they upset Michigan in the CCHA conference tournament final. It was only their second conference title banner and first since 1972, prior to Michigan, Notre Dame and MSU coming into the fledgling CCHA. (tOSU has six NCAA tournament appearances, including a Frozen Four appearance in 1998. All six appearances have been since 1998- with four in the past few years- 2003, 04, 05 and 09. They have been a program for 48 seasons dating back to 1963.)

Mark Osiecki (Wisconsin ’94) took the reins last season and has made an immediate impact. His veteran core has responded to the up tempo system he installed, and his freshmen have added dynamic offense to go with a sticky defensive scheme.

The Buckeyes are opportunistic on offense, as they check in 19th in the nation with a 3.14 GPG average. They are extremely difficult to generate offense against as they are only allowing 2.05 GPG (4th) which includes an 8th ranked PK at 87.4%. Their PP is potent, converting on 20.6% of their chances (21st). In addition, Ohio is aggressive yet disciplined averaging 12.9 minutes penalty minutes a game (32nd). They can be a chippy bunch if need be, but prefer to force their opponents into the retaliation calls. OSU outscored opponents 66-43 this season, tops in the conference in GA, and has outscored opponents 20-11 in the second stanza. (Ferris has only allowed 47 goals this season while scoring 57. Michigan is at 84 GF-61 GA for the season-same goal differential as the Buckeyes with horrible special teams.)

Ohio’s strength is their veteran defense and goal-tending. Senior Cal Heeter (12-2-3, 2.02 GAA and .932 save %) has been superb- but also has benefited by a team committed to making defensive assignment hockey their first priority. Back-up junior Brady Hjelle (2-2-0, 1.83 GAA, .942 save %) has seen limited action this season. They are guarded by senior defense-man (and Ann Arbor native) Sean Duddy (0-11-11, +6) and junior blue-liner Devon Krogh (2-9-11). Senior Danny Dries (11-7-18), sophomore Chris Crane (12-9-21, +10) and freshmen Ryan Dzingel (5-12-17) and Darik Angeli (6-5-11) have provided the bulk of the offense. The remainder of the roster has added key goals at opportune times and fit the speedy, smothering fore-checking style that Osiecki brought. The team is brimming with confidence and has the potential of running away and hiding from the Wolverines this weekend if they gain momentum and confidence.

Part II we will discuss Charting The Wolverines, Expectation, and Yost Bits.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — YostMeister

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