Friday, January 21, 2000

Friday, January 21, 2000, Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio

Well you know that the NCAA tournament is starting to dwell on people’s minds when you see the first PairWise Rankings (PWR) of the year. Yes, they came out this week along with the Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). I’m going to quote directly from the USCHO explanation of the PWR, why should I reinvent the wheel? The quote follows:

The PairWise Rankings (PWR) are a statistical tool designed to approximate the process by which the NCAA selection committee decides which 12 teams to invite to the Divisions I championship tournament. Although the PWR does not precisely duplicate the method used by the committee, the PWR has, in actuality, exactly predicted the NCAA tournament entries in each of the last three years.

So there you have it; actually that is just a very small paragraph from a very long and detailed explanation of the PWR and the entire selection process that can be found on USCHO’s website. For more information check there (if you don’t know the address drop me a note and I will forward it to you). The release of the first PWR of the year finds our Michigan Wolverines sitting nicely in the number six position the highest ranking of any CCHA team. The next CCHA team you find in the PWR is Ferris at number nine, with Michigan State at fifteen, and Northern Michigan at sixteen. I’m surprised to see both MSU and NMU so far down in this ranking. If the top twelve teams on this list went to the tournament, the season was over, and this actually predicted the tournament field correctly, neither the Spartans nor Wildcats would go this year. However, there is still plenty of hockey to play including several games involving the Wolverines, Spartans, and Wildcats against each other. The RPI has Michigan at number seven, Ferris at number ten, Michigan State at fourteen and Northern Michigan at eighteen. It makes for good conversation right now, but as I said there is still a long way to go.

After last weekends games the regular polls (I look at three different ones) all have the same top eight teams. I list them here in order starting at number 1 and going through eight; New Hampshire, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan, Maine, Boston University, Michigan State, and Northern Michigan. Boston College and Rensselaer take the last two spots in one poll, Rensselaer and Ferris in another, with Boston College and Ferris filling out the third. Ferris holds on in two of the polls, but dropped out of the third after being idle last weekend. I’m not quite sure how they dropped in that third poll since the team that replaced them split their weekend series against a fairly weak team. Oh well, that’s the way the puck bounces, we’ll see where things stand after Rensselaer plays two against the Spartans this weekend, while Ferris plays two games at Miami.

As I said last week Vermont surprised the college hockey world last Friday when the cancelled the remainder of their season. The league came up with a way to handle the remainder of the season this past Monday. It basically will treat the remaining Vermont games as no contests, not forfeits. The Vermont games played before the cancellation of the season all count, as do the statistics. The conference will be decided this year by a percentage, rather than total points. There are a number of other items associated with this, which can all be found on the USCHO web site. They have lots of articles there that look at what, what if, and how come, I see no need to go through it all here. Suffice it to say this has thrown the ECAC into a bit of turmoil.

Our very own Mike Comrie claimed offensive player of the week honors from the CCHA after last weekend’s four point, +3 performance. Tonight is another in the strange January schedule that Michigan plays. Tonight they play the Buckeyes of Ohio State who have not exactly been the team that everyone thought they would be this year. Michigan plays only this one game this weekend, so again, a big game, on the road that they can give everything they have to. While the Buckeyes haven’t exactly lit things up this year they are in a struggle to make the playoffs and have been playing much better over the last ten games. You can expect them to come after Michigan tonight in front of an expected crowed of 15,000+ in the Value City Arena. Michigan should win this game, but if they don’t take the Buckeyes seriously we could find ourselves on the loosing end. Michigan needs to pick up this win so they don’t give back the gift that the Spartans gave them last weekend. Michigan has to do the three things to get this win. First, the must play solid defense, they can skate all they want, but they can’t let 30+ shots through to the goal like they did last Friday night. Second, Michigan needs to get on the board first, hopefully early to keep that large crowd relatively quiet. Finally, Michigan needs to put up some power play goals when they get the chance. The Wolverines did make some adjustments to their power play lines this week so we’ll see how things go.

We are ready to drop the puck and get under way so let’s get to it. OSU got the puck loose in front of the UM goal, got off a shot, but it went wide. More sloppy puck handling by Michigan has given OSU a flurry of shots in the last thirty seconds. Michigan finally clears the puck out of their zone and was very lucky not to give up a quick goal to the Buck’s. Michigan has gotten off a few shots here now to apply a little pressure of their own. Kosick just missed getting one by the Buckeye netminder UM keeps possession of the puck. The teams seem to be trading icing calls right now as things have slowed down considerably since the furious pace at the start of the game. Ohio State almost got a goal there, but Blackburn got a piece of it to push it off to the side. A pair of penalties were called after play whistled dead, the first penalties of this game. The teams will now skate four on four. Comrie got loose with the puck and was pulling away from the OSU defense. He got pulled down from behind as a hooking penalty is called. Michigan goes to the power play with the four on three-man advantage. Let’s see how this power play is working tonight. We just moved to five on four as the first pair of penalties has expired. So far Michigan has been unable to do anything on this power play. The power play is over and Michigan was really unable to get anything going on that power play, not what we wanted to see. Now Michigan gets called for a penalty to give the Buckeyes their first power play chance of the night, with over half of the first period gone. Blackburn comes up with a great save there to keep the Buck’s off the board. Tempers are already starting to flare in this game, things could get really ugly in the late going especially if Michigan can get things going and get a lead. The Buck’s have had several good looks so far in this power play, but Blackburn has come up with the big saves so far. Jillson got the puck, moved it into the OSU zone, got a pass to Cammalleri who got of a great shot, but the OSU netminder made a better save. The power play was over all of about ten seconds when Peach gets called for a penalty to give the Buckeyes another power play. Michigan has to keep themselves under control in this game. The biggest problems they have had in games this year have been when they constantly gave the opponent power play chances. There we go a much-needed short handed goal as Blackburn lifts the puck over everyone to get it to Koch who breaks away all alone to punch the puck into the net. Blackburn gets the lone assist on the goal and that is a big lift for UM who gets on the board first to take the early lead. Hopefully Michigan can take that now and build on it. The OSU power play is over and both teams are once again playing at full strength. This full strength hockey again lasted all of about ten seconds as Ortmeyer gets called for a penalty to give OSU their third straight power play. Just seconds into this power play an OSU player gets called for a penalty effectively ending that OSU power play. We now skate four on four. Let’s see if we can finish this period without any more penalties. OSU now gets called for another penalty to give Michigan a one-man advantage for about thirty seconds. Then they will have about 30 seconds of a two many advantage – provided they don’t get called for anymore penalties. Come on Michigan lets take advantage of this and get that power play goal. UM now skates with a two-man advantage with a face off coming to the left of the OSU net. Michigan is pushing the puck to the net, but so far they have been unable to crack the OSU net. Well it was to good to be true, with about 42 seconds left in the period Michigan gets called for another penalty allowing OSU to finish the first period on the power play and start the second on the power play. The first period ends with Michigan holding the one to nothing lead. Neither team holds an edge in shots on goal as they both got 8 shots off in that first period.

We got through the first ten minutes of this game with hardly a penalty called, but both teams made up for it the last ten minutes of that period. Of course Michigan’s power play continues to be anemic. OSU starts the second period on the power play because of a late penalty by the Wolverines (they will have about 1:15 of power play time). The Buck’s came close to scoring right at the start of the game when both teams were full strength. I would be willing to bet that they will come out flying to start the second as they look to get the equalizer in this game. With seconds left OSU comes up with the power play goal to tie the game. Blackburn made the initial save, but he allowed a rebound and OSU was right there to score the goal. This goal bounced into the net off Michigan’s Jay Vancik, we don’t need to give the Buck’s that kind of help. Ohio State gets called for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. This would be a great time for Michigan to get that power play going. That’s exactly what we need as Koch comes up with his second goal of the game to put the Wolverines back in front. Mike Comrie and Mike Cammalleri get the assists on this goal. OSU called for another penalty to put Michigan back on the power play; this seems like the end of the first period only in reverse with Michigan getting power play after power play. Excellent, Michigan wasted little time as Ortmeyer gets a power play goal to give Michigan a two-goal lead. Mark Kosick picked up the lone assist on this goal. This is getting pretty ugly for both defenses as OSU comes right back down the ice and scores their second goal of the game to get back within one. I lost the Internet feed for several minutes, as I get the feed back Michigan is still ahead by one goal and they are on the power play. OSU kills off the Michigan power play as both teams now skating at full strength. OSU gets off a big shot that Blackburn stops and the rebound goes out of play. It looked like Michigan was going to get a goal, as Murray was right there in front of the net, but instead of a goal they get called for a penalty putting OSU on the power play yet again. Michigan needs to kill this off to quiet the crowd down. After a couple of close calls Michigan finally clears the puck, but OSU comes right back down the ice. Michigan just can’t stop giving the Buckeyes all the help they need as Michigan gets called for another penalty giving the Buckeyes a two-man advantage for 40 seconds. OSU doesn’t get a goal with the two-man advantage, but just as Michigan gets one player back OSU scores a goal to tie this game at three. Man, just as it looked like Michigan was getting ready to take over this game they simply collapse and have been soundly outplayed over the last several minutes. There are 6 ½ minutes to go in this period as Michigan tries to settle things down and retake the lead. There was a penalty called against OSU, but it was that 10 minute misconduct for diving – no power play. We move under a minute to play in this period and OSU gets called for icing putting the face off back in the Ohio State zone. It looked like OSU was going to get a power play, but thanks to an unthinking OSU player the Wolverines end up with a power play opportunity. Of course this couldn’t last as Matzka gets called for a penalty about a second after play started so both teams now skate even strength. This ugly period is finally over with the score all even at three apiece. The Buckeyes really took it to Michigan in the shot category as they now hold a 21 to 14 advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan should probably consider themselves lucky to get out of the second period with a tie. The Wolverines really need to come out in this final period, crank it up a notch, and bury these Buckeyes – they cannot afford to loose to the eleventh place team in this conference. We start the third period skating four on four. Hilbert had a chance at an open goal, but Hilbert fans on it. Michigan keeps the puck in the OSU zone and gets off several shots. Finally, Hilbert gets the puck into the net to put Michigan back on top early in the third period, let’s see if we can keep this lead. Peach and Comrie pick up assists on this goal. Michigan gets called for a penalty giving OSU a two-man advantage for 19 seconds (this happened about 18 seconds after Michigan regained the lead). Michigan gets one man back so we are now only down by one man and they manage to clear the puck out of the Michigan zone. Comrie has been a one-man penalty killer in the last part of this power play, killing off a lot of time and almost getting a short-handed goal for the Wolverines. Michigan kills off the penalty and they are once again skating at full strength. With about 14 minutes to go in the game OSU gets called for a penalty giving Michigan another power play opportunity. This is another perfect place for Michigan to pick up a power play goal. Michigan working the puck around well in the OSU zone getting off a couple of shots. Finally, they get the puck down to Langfeld who gets it into the net to give the Wolverines a power play goal and a two-goal cushion. Mink and Peach pick up the assists on this goal. Crunch time for Michigan again, lets see if Michigan can hang onto this lead and keep the Buck’s from climbing back into the game. However, staying true to form Michigan gets called for a penalty seconds after scoring that goal to give OSU a power play chance. OSU came close to getting a goal, but Huntzicker comes up with a great play to end the scoring threat. Michigan had killed off their penalty with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game. OSU gets called for a penalty putting Michigan back on the power play – let’s GO BLUE, extend that lead. In fact there are two Buckeyes in the box giving Michigan a two-man advantage. That’s just fantastic as Michigan comes up with another power play goal, putting Michigan up by three. Andy Hilbert gets the goal with assists going to Cammalleri and Jillson. OSU’s frustration comes out as everything goes wild, players getting tangled up all over the place. Let’s see what kind of mess this leads to, with all the fists flying there will undoubtedly be DQ’s handed out. It appears that Jillson and Dufore will both get DQ’s for next weeks UM/OSU game. Roemensky, Cammalleri, and Comrie are all out for roughing with a group of OSU players also out for various things. I’m not sure if anyone is going to be on the power play or if these were all coincidental (they did come after the whistle). We are finally back under way skating at four on four. There are only about nine minutes left in this game, let’s just get it over with and head back home to get ready for next weeks game. OSU will get a power play at the end of this for about 1:18. The Buckeye’s are now on the power play. Michigan kills off the penalty, but with around five minutes left in the game OSU gets called for a penalty putting Michigan back on the power play. The power play was almost over with no real scoring threat when Vancik gets called for a penalty ending the UM power play and setting OSU up for another power play chance. OSU now on the power play with 2:45 left in the game. Michigan picks up another penalty with 1:52 to play giving OSU a short two-man advantage. Ohio State has pulled their goalie so they have a three-man advantage. Well with all the extra attackers you had to know that was going to happen as OSU scores a goal to get within two. There is still 1:22 to go in the game and OSU is still on the power play, goalie still pulled so they have a two man advantage. Less than one minute to go and Michigan still holding the Buckeyes at bay. There are now 20 seconds remaining in the game as OSU looks for two goals to send this game to overtime. OSU skating 6 on 4 and they call time out to figure out how to play the last 20 seconds. The game ends with Michigan winning by a score of 6 to 4. Ohio State outshot the Wolverines in this game with a 34 to 28 edge in shots on goal.

Michigan won this game, but they sure did it the hard way. There is apparently one thing you can count on this year when the Buckeyes and Wolverines play – penalties and lots of them. This game turned into one ugly hockey game with penalties aplenty as the game went over three hours. There were just way too many penalties to say much more about it, except there were way to many. I didn’t think Michigan played a particularly good defensive game, but that may be a result of all the penalties with their corresponding power plays. Michigan did pick up some power play goals in this game converting on three power play chances, that was a good thing. That’s all there is this weekend for Michigan as they only had this one game. They only play one game next weekend as well, also against the Buckeyes. Michigan will have to play that one without Jillson who will be serving time for his DQ. Michigan needs to get through that game without allowing OSU to get them into any additional DQ situations as we play Ferris the following weekend and will need all hands on deck. Next weeks lone game is on Saturday at Yost, 7:05 PM. Until next week, C-ya!!