No. 4-ranked Boston University travels to Yost to take on No. 18 Michigan hockey in a premier non conference tilt that the Wolverines really need.
Michigan hockey welcomes Boston University to Yost this weekend for a premier nonconference tilt. This weekend is what makes college hockey special. It is similar in scope to Bobby Bowden bringing in Florida State to the Big House or Duke coming to Crisler.
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Boston has five national championships since 1971, more than Michigan and Michigan State combined. That doesn’t tell the whole story though. The Terriers have made 16 Frozen Four appearances over the same timeframe.
Boston is almost always a threat, locked in a perennial rivalry with Boston College for eastern hockey dominance.
The Terriers are 4-2-1 this year. Their two losses came on the road to No. 2-ranked Denver. In recent weeks Boston has beaten last year’s national runner-up, Quinnipiac, and split with a fellow Boston school and rival, Northeastern.
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Boston is youthful. Its three top scorers are freshman Patrick Harper, freshman Clayton Keller, and sophomore Jordan Greenway. All have at least 9 points and 4 goals through seven games. The Terriers are balanced but susceptible early in the season to be overwhelmed by a road trip to Yost.
This is the first series of the year the Wolverines will not have a deficit in experience, and it is important that they take advantage. If Michigan fails to control play, Boston will run away with at least one game. They’re too good and playing well.
Michigan got off to a 3-1-1 start but, as was warned before its trip to Vermont and Dartmouth, it was a mirage. Getting swept out east hopefully woke up the Wolverines to the problems in their play.
Vermont, sans all its captains, shut out the Wolverines and led from the first minute of play. Dartmouth, in its first game of the year, snuck away with a 3-2 victory two weeks ago.
The rebound was an odd one-game trip to the desert to Arizona State is in its first full season of Division I hockey, and it showed. The program is not a serious contender with just one win on the season. Michigan dispatched of ASU 4-1 in a glorified exhibition game.
Boston will be the first chance to show some of the kinks have been worked out. If they are, look to senior captain Alex Kile for the tell. His experience and ability stand out as huge advantages against a young Boston team.
Goalie Jake Oettinger is also a freshman (but of course). He has a miniscule 1.59 GAA and a .941 save percentage so far. This game isn’t that easy, especially on the road. Kile will have to be the man to shake Oettinger.
Then Michigan’s own diaper dandies like Lockwood and Sanchez can add to the pressure.
An early start for Saturday’s game means Boston likely plays its backup goalie.
You can’t lose anything in November, but the next two series could dig a hole if Michigan isn’t at its best. Dynamic, resurgent Lake Superior State looms over Thanksgiving weekend.
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The time is now for Michigan to play its best.