CLICK HERE for Game Recap from Kristy McNeil and other pertinent information and HERE for current Pairwise Rankings.

What just happened (TL;DR): If you were five minutes late to the game, you basically missed it…until the last few minutes! Michigan and Notre Dame each scored twice in the first nine minutes and then did very little for the next forty. ND tallied a power play goal midway through the third, and Adam Fantilli answered for Michigan in the final few minutes. Michigan should have scored multiple times in overtime, but just could not take advantage of their billion chances. Notre Dame won the shootout and took the extra point. Michigan is now 0/6 in their last two shootouts.

FINAL CORSI NUMBERS (www.collegehockeynews.com)

Forward Notes.

-While Notre Dame isn’t the same vintage Notre Dame of eons past, they put together stretches of looking like it at times on Friday night. They defended their slot well, gave Ryan Bischel time and space to see shots, and mostly shut down Michigan’s speed in transition…after the first nine or so minutes. Michigan just struggled to really threaten dangerous areas with any consistency all evening.

-Early on, it looked like Michigan might have something going in transition. Jackson Hallum and Gavin Brindley really challenged Notre Dame with their speed. They created plays on the rush and also recycled the puck to the top really well to help Michigan stay in the zone. On Saturday, Michigan will need to find more ways to take advantage of their speed game.

-Also, where’s Mackie?

Defense Notes.

-Once again, Luke Hughes and Jacob Truscott didn’t play…and it definitely showed. Michigan’s depth on defense was tested and there were a number of dicey moments. There were a couple of stretched where Michigan’s third pairing got stuck on the ice and just could not get a clear. There were also plenty of struggles to get exits and entrances all second period. Part of it is missing that top pair, but also it ratchets up everyone else’s minutes and pressure situations. Plus…

-Seamus Casey had a really rough all around night. His size may always present a problem against a bigger, older team like Notre Dame. On top of that, though, he made a number of poor decisions, turned the puck over, and looked like he was trying too hard to make the perfect play, instead of just making the smart play. When nights like that arise, the best thing to do is often the simplest. He’s a great talent and will have many nights to remember for the Maize and Blue. Friday night was just not one of them.

Plenty of Fireworks in this section! (David Wilcomes)

SPECIAL TEAMS CHART

Power Play. Michigan’s power play was not very good as a unit on Friday night. They had a few great individual efforts for guys that created chances and scored a couple of times, but they just never got set up long enough to create many dangerous chances. TJ Hughes went coast to coast against the worst puck stopping I’ve ever seen. He went forehand, backhand for Michigan’s opening goal. Adam Fantilli took the puck below the dots and fired a shot from a poor angle that beat Ryan Bischel between the legs. Interesting game where Michigan scored multiple power play goals, but never really looked overly dangerous? Ha.

Penalty Kill. Notre Dame came into Yost with a below average power play, and Michigan made them look great. On both of the power play goals, the Irish were able to hold the zone and create chances. They got a bit of Luck O’ the Irish on their first goal…a double deflection from straightaway. Their second goal was a corner walk-in goal for Jack Adams. Steve Holtz got sucked out to the boards and no one was able to cover for him. By the numbers, Michigan looked to have an advantage. On the ice, that was not the case.

Erik Portillo was not the problem on Friday (David Wilcomes)

GOALTENDING CHART

Notes. Erik Portillo started in net, again, and had a pretty good night. He got pretty unlucky on the goals in the first ten minutes of the game. One was a shot from the point that hit TWO different players on its way in. The second goal took a bounce off of Keaton Pehrson in front and changed direction going on frame far side. Just like that two goals had beaten him, and there’s no way he could have stopped either one. For the remainder of the game, he gave Michigan a chance, making a number of big saves in the second period, as Michigan got a bit loose with the puck in their own end. Once again, he was stranded against Jack Adams who walked right in on him in the third. His moment of the game probably came in the waning seconds denying a game-winner with his face. If he gives this performance tomorrow –and gets any more luck- it should be more than enough.

Jackson Hallum with the nutmeg assist (David Wilcomes)

ODD MAN RUSH CHART

Notes. Michigan’s speed was very obvious in the opening frame. Jackson Hallum outpaced Notre Dame into a couple of 2v1s. On the first one, he made a very nice backhanded drop pass to an open Gavin Brindley who hit the open net for a beautiful goal. The second one was broken up by a really nice play from a diving Irish defenseman.

Notre Dame got their biggest OMR chance as time ran out in regulation. The Irish came in on a 3v2 and Portillo made a mask save to keep the puck out and get the game to the extra frame. Ethan Edwards made a nice play on Notre Dame’s first 2v1 to mostly diffuse it. Portillo also had a couple big saves to shut down the second chance in transition.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Finally, it looked like Michigan was going to be able to turn the page on the ND at Yost bugaboo. False. Some things just don’t change. And this one has not. As of this writing, Minnesota is blowing out Ohio State. If that score holds, Michigan will still control their own destiny with a win on Saturday night on Senior Night. Tonight’s tie, did drop Michigan to 4th in PWR, though…pending other results. A major response is needed tomorrow night, though. Michigan is probably the better team…but maybe not without Luke Hughes? We’ll see. Saturday at 8pm on BTN.