Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

[5mn_Major]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Offense is good. Goaltending and defense are not. Same problems, new season.

Definitive Michigan hockey.

This year's series with the Gophers should be interesting. We've had the talent edge which has resulted in our puck control style carrying the play over your 'send em in waves' approach. Now that you've got the talent edge...I'm looking forward to see how that manifests itself on the ice. From our side, it might not be pretty.

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I'm not going to bother with a series thread, since the few of us that post can discuss here, and I don't think I've ever seen a Robert Morris fan on this board (if one is reading this, feel free to prove me wrong).

An undefeated (2-0-2) Robert Morris team makes their way to Yost this weekend for a pair of games. As alfa already pointed out, Saturday's game is at 3:05 pm.

Here's hoping we can win the games we should. It could get interesting, I see in their last game (vs. Niagara) the Colonials posted 8 goals. I'm predicting high scoring games.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

With a high scoring team coming in, it makes me a little worried about Racine in net. I know Shield is working hard with him, it still makes one a little worried.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Boy did Werinski have a terrible first two periods. He caused the turnover AND didn't back check for the first goal. And didn't cover a guy well to lead to another.

Good think he scored a really nice goal to partially make up for it.

Tough game to control the puck, get tons of shots, and go into the 3rd period with a 2 goal deficit. But to get 4 in the 3rd was pretty nice.

[streaker]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Boy did Werinski have a terrible first two periods. He caused the turnover AND didn't back check for the first goal. And didn't cover a guy well to lead to another.

Good think he scored a really nice goal to partially make up for it.

Tough game to control the puck, get tons of shots, and go into the 3rd period with a 2 goal deficit. But to get 4 in the 3rd was pretty nice.

Both he and Downing sucked until crunch time. The Colonials melted down in the 3rd- a bit of chirping and overconfidence at the end of 2 periods I think. Michigan comes out and kills their penalty, scores a goal, draws a penalty, they take a real dumb high stick to go down two men, Michigan score again to tie it, then RMU played ole' defense like we are used to seeing. I liked their goaltender, very sharp, but he had no chance on any of the 3rd period goals.

Well, I don't know how much either team has in the tank for a mid afternoon tilt, but winning eases that a bit. I thought Nags played well except the fat rebound problem. Combine that with lack of defensive coverage and 3 GPG is about where this team's average will stay.

Think about this: including Saturday, U-M has 8 of their next 10 at home. If they don't make hay the first half, it will be another struggle to secure a NCAA slot.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

Well, I don't know how much either team has in the tank for a mid afternoon tilt, but winning eases that a bit. I thought Nags played well except the fat rebound problem. Combine that with lack of defensive coverage and 3 GPG is about where this team's average will stay.

You know we are Zach fans. But have to be honest- Red swapped them hoping that Nagelvoort will take the reigns of the net. But that means that he deals with his issues- which I had noted was puck play behind the net (very minor, but that was MUCH better), and rebound control. Well, the latter really wasn't addressed as much as I would bet the coaches would like to see. Totally ignoring the rather obvious fact that the goals should have been prevented via defense doing their job- Zach also could have done a better job.

Basically, I would not be stunned to see Racine in net tonight.

Team wise- I wish they could figure out why they come out so flat. Which is odd to say when you saw them team have a 2-1 advantage in shots. But our chances were good, theirs scored goals. It's almost as if they did all of that work and go frustrated to the point of slowing down. Whatever they did before coming out in the third needs to happen in the first. Second Friday in a row that we entered the 3rd down 3-1 to have a furious come back.

On the other hand, it's nice to nit pick when you have a 4-0-1 record. I know most of us expect the play to result in a loss sometime soon.

On a totally different note- we talked with Jim Keough a lot last night- he mentioned that the Dekers Club is going to start to have pre-game get togethers AND away game watching parties at Revel and Roll (previously known as Cub AC's/ Colonial Lanes). One does NOT need to be a Deker to show up- just a way for Michigan fans to get together before the game and for away games.

As I get info for them, I will post them, but be prepared for the Boston game on Nov 20 for the first watching party. Hope some of you think about coming. I know we will- even though we've not been to the bowling alley for the +20 years we've lived next to it.

[streaker]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I can't figure out why after every tying goal the next shift sat back and let RMU take the momentum back. Happened up until the third period.

And yes, I think Red should stick with Zach, but George Vezina wouldn't stop everything with this type of defense in front of him.

I like our talent, but they play like individuals too much. Painful to admit but other fans have said it, too, especially on the backline. If it wasn't for the friendly schedule, I don't know what the record would be. I guess it is basically a case of risk/reward.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I can't figure out why after every tying goal the next shift sat back and let RMU take the momentum back. Happened up until the third period.

One time that it would make more sense to do the opposite, and press hard for a quick next goal. Take the game totally over doing that instead of letting the other team back into it. Back to my use of the word desperation vs. determination. When using the former word, lose a little bit and the other team scores- use the latter, and you want to bury the other team.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I suppose we knew that was coming. Between how we've seen them play and it being parent's night.

Zach really surprised us- he looked uncomfortable. Odd.

Downing and Werenski need to be separated. The two "best" defensemen are easily the worst out there. Zach- holy cow did you blow the play on a 4-4. Let RMU get a 3-1 that thankfully the could not convert. And their passing in our zone.

Offense was so close, but so far. To be shut out at home. Apparently they were worried what they were going to wear to tonight's Halloween parties. And what excuse to tell their parents to get away.

BTW, it was so bad, we left after the second period. The game seemed to end REALLY quickly after that.

[streaker]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I suppose we knew that was coming. Between how we've seen them play and it being parent's night.

Zach really surprised us- he looked uncomfortable. Odd.

Downing and Werenski need to be separated. The two "best" defensemen are easily the worst out there. Zach- holy cow did you blow the play on a 4-4. Let RMU get a 3-1 that thankfully the could not convert. And their passing in our zone.

Offense was so close, but so far. To be shut out at home. Apparently they were worried what they were going to wear to tonight's Halloween parties. And what excuse to tell their parents to get away.

BTW, it was so bad, we left after the second period. The game seemed to end REALLY quickly after that.

Well, I can't say you're wrong, but we didn't get any puck luck either. A goal early could have made this a different game. But, just the same full marks to RMU, can't take off any shifts against them. Yeah, Downing and Werenski is totally risk/reward, but more on the risk these days.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

So we have A game this weekend. One.

Friday against Niagara. One game over two weekends. Ugh.

Anyone have thoughts about it?

[wolverineTrumpet]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

My thoughts about 1 game vs. Niagara: we need to win.

Is a week off too long to come back with a little anger/fire after being shut out in your own building by an AHA team? Let's not drop another to Atlantic Hockey.

Also, Niagara is 0-5-2. Let's not let them get their first win of the season. Looking at the common opponent, Robert Morris, Niagara tied them 3-3 then lost 8-2 both games at Niagara.

[streaker]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

My thoughts about 1 game vs. Niagara: we need to win.

Is a week off too long to come back with a little anger/fire after being shut out in your own building by an AHA team? Let's not drop another to Atlantic Hockey.

Also, Niagara is 0-5-2. Let's not let them get their first win of the season. Looking at the common opponent, Robert Morris, Niagara tied them 3-3 then lost 8-2 both games at Niagara.

Plus they tied Penn State 1-1.

Meh, Red didn't seem too bothered by the loss... said that they played better than it showed, didn't get any breaks and their goaltender played well. Seems that our keystone cop routine on the blueline and in net helped, too. But, these are the losses that end up being the difference in the pairwise and keeping us one game from being in the NCAA tournament or not.

I see regression, not growth- something that isn't happening at MSU, Minnesota or Wisconsin. It won't be this anointing of the B1G Ten crown this year. It will be a struggle. I see MSU as the best team playing in the league right now. They have a monster nc schedule, going to BC this weekend and North Dakota and MTU to follow.

[alfablue]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

I see regression, not growth- something that isn't happening at MSU, Minnesota or Wisconsin. It won't be this anointing of the B1G Ten crown this year. It will be a struggle. I see MSU as the best team playing in the league right now. They have a monster nc schedule, going to BC this weekend and North Dakota and MTU to follow.

Interesting that you bring that up- based on how they played in the exhibition and the first two games we saw- it seems as if the way the team practiced without the coaches is very different from how the coaches wants them to play. So we have to spend this time adjusting from the habits they learned playing together on their own to the intended play by the coaches.

Past years, we've seen the team look discombobulated early in the season- taking a good month or so before the passes got really crisp. Now we see that right away, and then see it go away, hoping to see it come back later.

Hmm.

Makes me think that Red and the staff need to sit down longer with the captains to really work out the pre-season practices.

[bluevox]

Re: Michigan Wolverines 2015-2016 Season

After the last game we saw at Yost, I can understand why no one is looking forward to this game, but we will all show up and watch. Do we get better or, as Streaker suggested, does the team regress?

Also, is purple a legitimate color for a sports team? Discuss.