On Friday night, both goaltenders weren’t sharp, each one giving up four goals. It seemed like Michigan hockey was going to get the regular-time win, but freshman goalie Jack Ivankovic let an unscreened shot from the center go over his blocker, tying the game and sending it into overtime, then to a penalty shootout. Ivankovic stopped all three Penn St. shooters for the OT win. Saturday night was a comprehensive win. Of the 19 skaters, 13 got a point. Ivankovic saved 30 of 33 shots.
Snap out of it!
Will Horcoff was an absolute skyrocket in the first half of the season, but in the second half so far, he’s fizzled out. He has gone point-less in his last four games and has four points in the nine games in 2026. Much worse is that he has been invisible, which is hard to do when you’re 6’ 4” and play on the first line. Back in better days, Horcoff was a volume shooter, most of which were quality shots. However, he has just six shots in his last five games.
On Saturday night, Michigan hockey coach Brandon Naurato moved Horcoff to the fourth line with seniors Kienan Draper and Josh Eernisse. Putting him with these two lunch-pail skaters is a savvy move. Let’s see if this continues against Wisconsin. He is still on the power play and scored Saturday. Michigan needs Horcoff to be his bullish self and command attention.
Flowers for Asher
Freshman Asher Barnett is the gift that keeps on giving. Little was expected of him this season but the defensemen has four goals and 11 assists. He scored another one on Friday, using his instincts and aggressiveness. Down by a goal in the second period, he fired the puck around the boards to sophomore Michael Hage, who picked it up and drove to the net, firing a bad angle shot off the goalie. Barnett, with his eyes on Hage, scrambled towards the goal with his stick on the ice. The puck found him and he one-timed it into the five hole,
Ivankovic is getting sharper
Michigan hockey must have its lauded goalie get back to pre-injury form for the March tournaments. On Friday, he shut down Penn St. in the shootout and throughout the weekend made many tough glove saves in traffic. He calmly turned away many excellent Penn St. chances, particularly ones from freshman Gavin McKenna, maybe (recently downgraded from likely) the first pick in the NHL draft. Ivankovic has always been an outstanding puck handler, and he was just that this weekend. Ultimately, it was an encouraging performance. Many more to come, right? Please?