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Michigan Hockey vs Michigan State: GLI Consolation Preview

By Grant Dossetto

Nov 26, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; A view of the inside of Joe Louis Arena in its farewell season before the start of the Detroit Red Wings game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Red Wings are playing their last season at Joe Louis Arena before the team moves to Little Caesars Arena next season. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; A view of the inside of Joe Louis Arena in its farewell season before the start of the Detroit Red Wings game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Red Wings are playing their last season at Joe Louis Arena before the team moves to Little Caesars Arena next season. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan hockey can still take third in the Great Lakes Invitational by beating Michigan State.

Michigan hockey will play rival Michigan State in the third-place game at the Great Lakes Invitational today. UM fell 2-0 to the Huskies in the first round.

The Wolverines were outshot 38-22 in the game and outchanced. It could have been worse than it was. Tech had a powerplay goal waived off after a nearly five-minute review for high sticking. A second review on a close play also went in the Wolverines’ favor.

Michigan suffered another period, this time the second, where they failed to have an answer to offensive zone pressure. Michigan managed just one shot in the frame’s first 16 minutes and were hemmed in their own end.

Michigan had three powerplay opportunities in the first including a five-on-three of over 1:15. They were unable to capitalize though and found themselves trailing by a goal after one.

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Michigan State gave up four powerplay goals to the Broncos of Western Michigan in the second semifinal. Michigan must make good today.

State is not as talented a team as Tech or Western. The Spartans have lost three straight and are just 4-10-1. MSU has been in a prolonged slide since their national title in 2007. Current coach Tom Anastos should have been fired already.

Under his watch, the program is a putrid 75-108-21. Hard times for a program that was so good for so long under Ron Mason.

It is important that Michigan hockey does not play down to State’s level. MSU does not have the talent to play high caliber hockey and will try to grind out games. The Spartans want to clog up the neutral zone and keep their opponents from playing with speed.

Michigan has lost so much talent the past couple years. Its entire first line from a year ago; the CCM line of Connor, Compte, and Motte, went to the NHL. The year before it lost Dylan Larkin. It is obvious that the offensive talent level is down from the usual standard of excellence.

This is a game where they can quit trying to be cautious. Michigan hockey’s transition game from the defensive zone to offense has not been good. They are relying on a lot of dump and chase to enter the other team’s end. They have to get away from that today.

There were flashes of it yesterday. On the powerplay in the first Michigan schemed up a nice play at Tech’s blue line to give captain Alex Kile entry with speed that led to a good scoring chance. Michigan opened up the first five minutes of the third with some quality opportunities.

State is a team where that must come in more than flashes.

**Props to the Detroit fans who sold 19-thousand tickets to the first day of the GLI. It continues to be one of the biggest regular season tournament in the sport.

**The title game sees the hottest team in the country in Tech play #7 Western. A potential classic in store for the MacInnes Cup.

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