ADVERTISEMENT

Michigan takes the first game of the weekend in shut-out fashion...

Puckhead

All-American
Jun 4, 2001
6,089
38
48
beating Penn State 4-0. It was just 1-0 after one and 1-0 after two. A big third period saw Michigan put this one away in grand fashion. The last goal was a short-handed, empty net goal credited to Warren. Don't see a whole lot of those.

The big scorer of the night was Becker who notched two goals, Norris had one, and Warren got that last goal late in the game.

Lavigne seems to have really settled in as the go-to goalie. Penn State out shot Michigan 15-9 in the first period, but Michigan came out of the period with the lead. Lavigne had to make some big saves over the course of the night, but in the end it was Michigan who out shot Penn State 35-34. That says two things to me, first - Lavigne good, second - defense better giving up only 34 shots. Penn State is a team that regularly puts 50 shots or more on net. Holding them down to 34 was great.

The power play was pretty awful, going 0-4 on the night, but the penalty kill was pretty good, not allowing Penn State a power play goal on three chances. This was a match-up between the 11th best power play in the country (PSU) against the 58th (out of 60) penalty kills (Michigan). So maybe some improvement coming on that penalty kill.

Michigan continues to play well and the really good thing, they can get better.

There were only two games in the Big Ten tonight; Michigans and Wisconsin vs Notre Dame. Wisconsin made a game out of it, but in the end Notre Dame won, pushing Michigan a full 4 points ahead of Wisconsin and Minnesota (Minnesota now with a game in hand). Big game tomorrow night; if Michigan can get the win, they will move ahead of PSU into third place moving them closer to getting home ice in the Big Ten tournament.
 
Didnt see the 3rd period but was impressed with M's job of forechecking once they had it in the PSU zone in the first 2 periods. Lavigne played so fundamentally sound.....square to the shooters, prepared. Still a few giveaways could have been trouble but nice when the guy between the pipes is the ultimate eraser.
Indeed, one of the announcers mentioned PSU averages 40 shots per game...AVERAGES......so to keep below that is a credit to the back end & the guys out front deflecting/blocking shots.
 
ADVERTISEMENT