Friday night was a headscratcher
Really? That was a horrible effort. There was plenty at stake, and Michigan hockey laid a stinker. The winner-take-all pot that is this hockey season is growing, and every game, every period, every shift matters more and more. With the stakes getting higher, we’ll see who wants to grind.
Saturday, we got the grit
Adversity came a’ calling in the first period, with three penalties called on them and Wisconsin converting on one. But Michigan coach Brandon Naurato’s team stood tall. The tying goal was a tip from freshman forward Kason Muscutt, the first college goal of his career. Junior Nick Moldenhauer scored the game-winner in the second, and Michigan played shut-down hockey in the third, with lots of blocked shots and hard hits. Senior TJ Hughes scored an empty-netter with 13 seconds to play to finish up, 3-1.
Ivankovic is doing Ivankovic things again
Wisconsin hung four goals on the freshman Jack Ivankovic over the weekend, but it’s tough to fault him on each one. The first goal was a rebound off a deflected shot that hit the iron, the second was an excellent shot by a player who was flying, and the third was at the edge of the crease by an unchecked player. The lone goal on Saturday was on a power play where Ivankovic made the first save despite being screened, and his defensemen failed to clear the puck in the ensuing scramble. Ivankovic faced 74 shots and saved all but four. This is great news for Michigan.