Single-elimination hockey tournaments are a crapshoot, and having the Frozen Four in Las Vegas is appropriate. Michigan hockey plays a “high event” brand of hockey, where they force play and take chances. Denver is the opposite, forcing opponents to the outside in their defensive zone, outnumbering them in the corners, and shutting down breakaways and odd man rushes by being safe in the offensive zone. Fluky plays, weird bounces, and sticks breaking at the wrong moment may determine the result rather than gaudy stats.
However, check out these gaudy stats: 14 starts, 14-0-1, three shutouts, and a .958 (!) save percentage. Those are Johnny Hicks' (Denver goalie) numbers since late January when he took over due to injury. A hot goalie, as hockey truisms go, can single-handedly win a series, often overriding a team's lack of offensive depth or defensive structure. Due to this, Denver is unshakeable in their confidence. Junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp and Hobey Baker finalist, said in an interview with The Denver Post: “If they do get a breakaway, you know [Hicks] has got it. The confidence he gives you is unbelievable.”
How Michgan hockey can get past a hot goalie
To counter this, Michigan must score first. Getting one behind Hicks right away will knock Denver on its heels. Michigan’s elite shooters can overwhelm goalies when given good looks. But they cannot rely on shot volume, craft, and ability; they’ve got to be the ones creating lucky bounces. Overwhelm the smaller Hicks (5’ 10”, 157 lbs.) with bodies in front of him, make him challenge shots, and move the puck side to side so he must cover the whole net.
Denver’s an exceptionally good team, similar to Michigan. But Michigand has more. More players capable of doing what Denver’s can do, so look for Michigan to roll the lines and defensive pairings, outskating and outworking them. If the Wolverines play up to their capabilities, they should be just a bit better across the board. And if Hicks is outstanding, Michigan’s own freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic is equal if not better overall. So, let’s hope luck is wearing Maize and Blue when Michigan coach Brandon Naurato rolls the dice.