Michigan Hockey: Big Ten Tournament -- Michigan

Posted at 12:00pm — 3/19/2015

Michigan Wolverine Hockey: Big Ten Tournament — Michigan

What: B1G Ten Hockey Tournament
When: Thursday-Saturday March 19th-21st
Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit
#4 Penn State (18-14-4) vs. #5 Ohio State (13-18-3) Thursday @ 4:30 p.m. Winner vs. #1 Minnesota (21-12-3) 4:30 p.m. Friday.
#3 Michigan (20-14-0) vs. #6 Wisconsin (4-25-5) Thursday @ 8 p.m. Winner vs. #2 MSU (17-15-2) 8:00 p.m. Friday.

Championship Game 8 p.m. Saturday.
TV/Radio: Thursday/ Friday/Saturday: BTN
WTKA 1050 a.m. with Al Randall & Bill Trainor. www.mgoblue.com

Handicapping The B1G Ten Tournament Field

#3 Michigan (20-14-0)

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The underachieving Wolverines have suffered from the same maladies all season: faulty goaltending and defensive lapses at key points in the game. They are the proverbial sizzle and sometimes the steak, as they have solid NHL draft talent (on paper) sprinkled throughout the lineup that erratically puts a full sixty minutes into their best effort.

When they are on offensively, they can compete with any team in the country- with an NCAA leading 3.88 GPG scoring average and the 3rd best PP at 25%. But it is their weak defensive numbers- 36th in PK & 39th in team defense- that has hurt the Wolverines. They suffered ten losses on the road which damaged their ability to win the league title and are one of the main culprits in having to win the conference tournament to qualify for the NCAA tournament. They have their backs against the wall and as Red Berenson confidently proclaimed- “I wouldn’t want to be a team playing Michigan next week” I harken that this is only true if Michigan gets any semblance of goaltending and doesn’t get stymied offensively by a hot goaltender. They must realize they can’t always outscore their mistakes.

No doubt that the Wolverines are led by a trio of hard working NHL caliber players in senior Zach Hyman (19-30-49), freshman Dylan Larkin (14-29-43) and Captain (junior) Andrew Copp (14-16-30.) Hyman finished the regular season 7th overall in scoring in the NCAA and is one point short of tying Carl Hagelin as the last Michigan player to score 50 points in a season.

The All-B1G Ten First Team forward and B1G Ten scoring leader should have gotten more consideration for B1G Ten Player of the year, also- his role on this team transcends just his gaudy offensive numbers. Next season he will be at the next level possibly in the NHL with the Florida Panthers- and it is because of his overall game and work ethic that will get him there.

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Joins him as not only B1G Ten Freshman of the Year, but also as an All B1G Ten forward- which probably took away from B1G Ten POTY voters who saw Hyman’s success aided by the Red Wings talented draftee. (Funny how that argument will not play for Jack Eichel, the BU freshman forward and heir apparent Hobey Baker candidate who also has the 2nd leading scorer in the NCAA on his wing.) Nonetheless, Larkin is 15th overall in NCAA scoring and forms one of the best tandems with Hyman in the country.

Copp, voted Second Team All B1G Ten, is also a hard worker on the ice that had his best offensive season in his three years on the roster. His combination of physical grit and skill gives Michigan two top lines to contend with along with steady forward and 2013-14 Freshman of the Year, JT Compher. The sophomore added 22 points this season, but missed the second half of Friday’s game and sat out Saturday’s game against the Spartans will an “upper body” injury. His status for this week is questionable.

Michigan’s weaknesses start on the blue line- an area where it really shouldn’t. Zach Werenski led all freshmen defensemen in goals (9) was named to the All-Freshman Team and hard hitting Michael Downing was named to the All Big Ten Second Team also. Both are destined for the NHL although their defensive work still needs refined. The remainder of the defense has some size and mobility, but is weakened by critical turnovers and communication issues with their netminder. Brennan Serville will move forward to the next level, being drafted by Winnipeg. Freshmen Cutler Martin is still learning, but contributed huge goals this season.

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Goaltending is the Michigan kryptonite: it can either be stone cold (as in the case on the road) or solid (as was the case at home or at JLA.) Neither junior Steve Racine (9-5-0, 3.19 GAA, .901 save %) or sophomore Zach Nagelvoort (11-9-0, 2.634 GAA, .906 save %) have impressed any casual observer over long stretches this season. Both have appeared unsteady and lacking confidence in big games, save Racine’s splendid performance at the GLI and then in the home series against Minnesota. Nagelvoort appeared to be the coach’s choice for much of the season but never looked comfortable or able to keep the job as the season progressed. They will have to be the difference, in this short tournament.

X-Factors: The offense can get production from all four lines and the blue line. Lately, though the weight of the offense has fallen onto the top two lines. Defensively, there is too much emphasis on pushing the offense and forwards containing their gaps with their defensemen in tight games. Goaltending will make or break the Wolverines, giving up unearned goals while not “stealing” any games. Injuries have also hurt their depth with Compher and freshman Tony Calderone out with injuries.

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Written by GBMWolverine Staff — Yostmeister

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