Michigan Wolverines Hockey

[Rob F]

The new CCHA conference standings after this weekend's games (Michigan was idle):

--------------- GP--- W-- L -- T-- SW--- Pts.

1 -Ferris Bueller-20 ---11-- 6-- 3-- 1--- 37

2 -other Miami --22--- 11-- 9-- 2-- 1--- 36

2 ---the W M U- 20 ---10 --7-- 3-- 3--- 36

2 ---the ohio --- 22 ---10 --7 --5 --1--- 36

5 ---the L S S U - 22--- 9-- 9-- 4-- 4--- 35

6 ---the N D ---- 20--- 10-- 7-- 3-- 0 ---33

7 ---Michigan --- 20 ----9 --7 --4-- 1 ---32

8 ---sparty -----20---- 8 --9 --3-- 2--- 29

9 --- the N M U --20 ----7 --8 --5-- 2--- 28

10 ---the Alaska -22 ----6 --12 -4 --2--- 24

11--Bowling Team 20 ----3 --13 -4 --3 ---16

!

[Rob F]

Although Michigan dropped from 4th last week to 7th, things really didn't work out too badly for idle Michigan. The sparties lost 2 to remain behind us, and only Ferris (who swept spartie) won 2 among the teams in contention. We were 3 points behind 1st place ohio (who only got 1 point in the standings, losing once and then getting a tie/shootout loss vs LSSU) after last weekend; now we're 5 points behind the new leader, the Buellers of Ferris.

The next 2 weekends are huge, first 2 home games vs. 2nd place Miami, then the following weekend a series vs. spartie, game 1 @ Munn, game 2 at JLA in Detroit. The last 2 weekends are against the bottom feeders, 9th place NMU coming in to Yost for a pair, then we close out the CCHA regular season vs. the woeful last place Bowling Team.

We're gonna need some help to make it to the top, but the biggest thing right now, after having a week off, is to regain that momentum we've had for the last 2 months next week at home vs. Miami. It's important to note, too, that 3 of the 6 teams on top of us in the standings only have 6 games left, and most of the top 6 teams have a lot of games remaining against each other. I'm hoping that as they cannibalize each other, that we can run the table (or at least take 7 of 8 ) to blow past the rest of them in the standings.

[Rob F]

BTW, I'm hoping that OP doesn't consider this a "butch" sport like basketball!

;-)

[Mike]

Carl Hagelin won the NHL's fastest skater last night! The Swede and former UM star is a rookie with the Rangers.

[Optimus Prime]

I am just kidding rob.

Carl Hagelin (SWE) completed the circuit in 13.218 seconds in the final round against Ottawa's Colin Greening (CDN) (13.303), who himself played four years at Cornell University before turning pro last season.

Margin, .085 of a second?

2 out of 3?

[Mike]

Hagelin already won 2 out of 2. They raced in the first round and Hagelin nosed him in a photo finish. Both skaters were sub-13 seconds the first time.

[WM Wolverine]

Best of 5 then, Greening could win the next 3.

[Rob F]

Big weekend series starting tonight vs. Miami. YOST WILL BE ROCKIN' both tonight and Saturday night, faceoffs for both games 7:35 pm, both on the tube (FoxSports+ tonight, CBS Sports Network tomorrow.

Although we're now in 6th, we're within striking distance of everyone ahead of us over the weekend---a win being worth 3 points in the standings, we trail 1st-place Ferris by 5 points and Miami by 4. Bottom line is this: take care of business on home ice this weekend, and let the rest sort itself out.

Looking at the weekend schedule, a sweep this weekend, besides vaulting us ahead of Miami, could also move us past WMU and LSSU, whose only game this weekend is also non-con. I doubt we pass ND yet, as they have a pair at home vs. cellar-dweller BGSU, and Ferris likely stays up on us in the race, too, despite having to travel to NMU for a pair of always-tough road games.

And then there's the need for some help from sparty playing a pair at ohio...this weekend, as much as it makes me puke to type this, i have to say: Go spart...GAG!!!!!!! YUCK!!!!

[Rob F]

MEEECHIGAN 4 -- Miami 1 midway thru 3rd period. We lead 3-0 after the 1st period, teams traded goals in the 2nd (although Miami outshot us 11-1 in the 2nd only to have Shawn Hunswick make save-after-save, only allowing a sole power-play goal.

Miami has been showing their frustration in the 3rd, things are getting pretty chippy...

BTW, Denard just got some face time on TV, FoxSportsDetroit showing him having fun in the student section, huge smile on his face as usual!

[Rob F]

Final 4-1 MEEEECHIGAN!!!!

[Rob F]

Final minute had waaaaaay too much extracurricular BS going on, Miami went on a power play when Michigan retaliated for a cheap shot hit on our goalie Hunswick. That wasn't teh end of it, though, as they again ran our goalie over in the last few seconds, resulting in a 5-minute major against Miami, along with a couple of fights that the refs quickly stopped. Then, on the final face-off, yet another cheap shot crosscheck by Miami--this time the refs immediately stepped in between, but that didn't stop Miami's coach from running out on to the ice and grabbing his offending player's facemask to give him a verbal slapdown.

Sets things up nicely for some physical play tomorrow night, refs better be prepared to take control, or it might quickly turn into a brawl soon after tomorrow's opening faceoff.

[Rob F]

Everything in the CCHA is over for the night, and again Michigan gains ground.

1st place Ferris got just 1 point by tying NMU, 5-5.

WMU moved up to 1st by beating Alaska, 2.1. The other two teams that were tied for 2nd went pointless, as ohio lost to msu 6-3, and we beat Miami.

LSSU, one point behind those 3 going in to this evening, also went pointless, winning a non-conference game, and the next team behind them in the standings, ND, won as expected against BGSU.

Just a quick summary of the top teams in the standings with points:

WMU 39

Ferris 38

ND, ohio, and Miami 36

MEEEEECHIGAN and lake Superior 35

sparty 32


7 teams all within 4 points of each other at the top.

[Rob F]

Even if we run out of time in trying to overtake every team still ahead of us---we only have 7 conference games left in the regular season---I really like our chances to go a long way in the post-season. We dominated Miami tonight in the 1st, relied on our hot goalie in the 2nd, then again dominated play in the 3rd tonight, even though we hadn't played in 2 weeks. It's not easy to come back sharp in any sport after that much time off, especially against a good team like Miami.

Not only that, but we are a completely different team now than what we were during that 1-7-1 stretch starting in early November. Since then we're 9-1-1 and are still improving; no goalie in College Hockey is having a better season than Shawn Hunswick. Hunswick has been absolutely phenomenal over the last 2 months!!

[lineygoblue]

The return of Jon Merrill has made a big difference too.

[Mike]

Tonight's game is on CBS College Sports for those that have it. A sweep would be huge! We moved to #4 in PW after last night's win.