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Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

More good news: Slovin reports that Red says Merrill could be out for "months."

At least we can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that Michigan will now visit College Park every eight years. BIG TENNNNNN!
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Caustic Undertow said:
More good news: Slovin reports that Red says Merrill could be out for "months."

At least we can comfort ourselves with the knowledge that Michigan will now visit College Park every eight years. BIG TENNNNNN!
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That was expected news, CU. The injury isn't simple and sounds like it is not healing as quickly as they thought it should. Jon has been pretty staid about it- when I asked him he just shrugged.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Well, we won. Wouldn't say things are fixed, but winning is winning.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

bluevox said:
We looked like a team that will struggle to make the tournament. Sometimes, looks can be deceiving, but ..........
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We live near a place where a lot of the players go to eat. Talking with the owners- the players that go there don't really know what is going on- it's very unusual to them.

Having thought about that comment for a while, we kind of concluded that the thinking they are showing is kind of disturbing- as if something will happen on it's own to fix the team, and walla- we will play good hockey.

Here's my thoughts....

#1 most important- communication. There's so many blind passes to people who are not there, or are not open at all- it's clear that they team barely knows where the other players are out there.

#2- passing- a few of the players are passing really well, but most of them are not- taking too long, obvious passes, weak passes, etc- seems as if this was worked on, a lot of the PP issues would be fixed.

#3- KISS- sometimes they seem to want to force plays- especially cross ice. Notre Dame knew every single time we were going to do that and BG was clicked into that as well.

#4 on- Communication. How many times did you see the team break out all but the D and the winger being pressured on the board so they had nobody to work with behind the net- but they didn't know a dump out was better than a pass behind the net? The goal BG got- nobody was moving on a very open shot- who was supposed to cover them. They collapse down as the lack of communication is leading to a lack of ice trust- wingers who should be ready to break out and cover the D are below the top of the circle, inside the face off dot.

Normally, as this time of the year, there's enough talent to make up for that, and survive through the GLI when this is traditionally taken care of. Alas, this team is illustrating the imporantce of team work when talent is lacking (relatively speaking). It's not as if I'm not confident that this will be fixed- they have improvments every game. The problem is that the hole they dig will be too deep to get out of w/o winning the last CCHA championship.

BTW, anyone notice how loud the saves were when Trouba was doing the shooting? He's got a VERY strong shot- wrister or slapshot. The PP is working to get him a one timer from the left side- and it's starting to get pucks cleanly on the net. I suspect this will start putting them in the back soon enough.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Very good observations, E. I don't think you glanced over at me after the BG goal. I would have said, give Sparks a hundred herbies for not covering the point. He's a senior, he should know better. So should AJ- and Moffie. If you are going to pack the net, make sure the shooting lanes are clogged. Duh.

If they played anyone other than a pathetic BG team last night, they would have lost. Cornell will run them out of MSG.

Red finally benched Moffatt (0-4-4, -6) but took out Serville. I don't know why, he is a + d-man and isn't struggling nearly as bad as Clare. We'll see who he pulls out of a hat to bench on Saturday.

Give props to Guppy, AJ and PDG last night. They threatened every shift.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

I went to the MSG game against Cornell this weekend, my first game this season, and all I can say is, wow, that's one of the very few times I've ever been outright embarrassed by a Michigan performance. Maybe my perspective is distorted by the fact that my wife is a Cornellian and I had to suffer her trash talk for the second time in 2012. Still, I couldn't help but wonder, is this year we're going to miss the tournament? It's not like Cornell is having a vintage year, either, but they dominated us.

The defense was awful, just awful. The lack of discipline was shocking; this did not look like a Red Berenson-coached team. Bad positioning, bad awareness, bad decisions, bad communication. And dumb, dumb penalties: 4 in the first period and another early in the second. From the scorelines and from the discussion here, it looks like the defense has been a problem all year.

We did outshoot Cornell by 2 or 3 shots, and with a little puck luck, maybe we could have had 3 goals, but don't be fooled: they had more quality chances than we did. If Cornell had had better puck luck, they could have had 8.

By the way, I have to compliment the Cornell fans. They were very impressive. Yes, they outnumbered Michigan fans 2 or 3 to 1. Yes, they had a lot more to cheer about. Yes, they had their band and we didn't. But they were more creative, not just louder. The "Beat Ohio" taunt at the start was particularly clever. Every school (including Cornell) has its standard repertoire of canned chants, but I miss the days when our fans used to improvise like that...the Yost crowds are still great and enthusiastic, but when was the last time you heard something new that made you laugh?
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Yes, thois is a very dissappointing season thus far. It has crossed my mind that "The streak" could come to an end this year, but then I remembered 2010. Yea, it may not be pretty but we've till got a shot (no real goalie though)...
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

MichFan said:
I went to the MSG game against Cornell this weekend, my first game this season, and all I can say is, wow, that's one of the very few times I've ever been outright embarrassed by a Michigan performance. Maybe my perspective is distorted by the fact that my wife is a Cornellian and I had to suffer her trash talk for the second time in 2012. Still, I couldn't help but wonder, is this year we're going to miss the tournament? It's not like Cornell is having a vintage year, either, but they dominated us.

The defense was awful, just awful. The lack of discipline was shocking; this did not look like a Red Berenson-coached team. Bad positioning, bad awareness, bad decisions, bad communication. And dumb, dumb penalties: 4 in the first period and another early in the second. From the scorelines and from the discussion here, it looks like the defense has been a problem all year.

We did outshoot Cornell by 2 or 3 shots, and with a little puck luck, maybe we could have had 3 goals, but don't be fooled: they had more quality chances than we did. If Cornell had had better puck luck, they could have had 8.

By the way, I have to compliment the Cornell fans. They were very impressive. Yes, they outnumbered Michigan fans 2 or 3 to 1. Yes, they had a lot more to cheer about. Yes, they had their band and we didn't. But they were more creative, not just louder. The "Beat Ohio" taunt at the start was particularly clever. Every school (including Cornell) has its standard repertoire of canned chants, but I miss the days when our fans used to improvise like that...the Yost crowds are still great and enthusiastic, but when was the last time you heard something new that made you laugh?
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I'm sorry you had to watch. Luckily, the Fox Sports Detroit + simulcast of the MSG network broadcast was cancelled, or was never going to happen. Either way, unless you had Directv, you weren't going to see it here. The team has, as you described, been an enigma defensively all season. It seems to be magnified on the road, where they have had a habit of falling behind by multiple goals. The discipline hasn't been a problem, except on the road. It will be a long season, since most of their remaining games are away from Yost.

I can't rip on Cornell fans... we did imitate their chants, and certainly their team has come to play in both games this year. I think it is crass having their band play the MSU fight song and their fans mocking the OSU rivalry ( I mean, hockey is all they really have, right?) but it's certainly not meant to make Michigan fans feel good anyway. The fans are creative, otherwise. Yost needs a shot of that since the band plays over the students' staid obscentities now. The most creative tools were the introduction of section size flags for different players- or the one brought to MSG of Yost. Oh well, I guess Brandon will get blamed for stunting that creativity, too.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Well, besides the outcome of the hockey game, my trip to NYC was great. We caught the b-ball win over K State on Friday, so that was fun.

I was starting to get excited in the second period against Cornell. We were dominating the play and I thought, beginning to look like a Michigan team. The first 10 minutes of the second looked good. Then Cornell scored. And that seemed to deflate the team.

We've seen glimpses of how this team can play. I wonder if it's more of a mental issue than anything else. We get behind, or nothing goes in so we make desperate passes, take lousy shots, etc.

I still think this can be a great team. I just hope they turn it around soon.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

wolverineTrumpet said:
We've seen glimpses of how this team can play. I wonder if it's more of a mental issue than anything else. We get behind, or nothing goes in so we make desperate passes, take lousy shots, etc.
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While we are not the most talented team in the world, I do think this is a big issue. Maybe we can't be the best team in the country, but if they really mentally got into the game, they can beat most teams out there. They had dominat times against most teams- but those seemed to result in little, and once something bad happened, the wheels came off.

I'm now worried that the only way out of the hole they are digging will be to be the last team to lift the Mason Cup. other than that, even with a good second half, it will need a bad second from a lot of other teams to put us high enough to get in on merit.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

I looked at the CCHA standings today, wondering just how near the bottom Michigan would be, and was surprised that 3 wins and a shootout victory have Michigan tied for 7th (I would have thought lower). Granted, these rankings are based on point totals thus far and with teams having played 6 - 10 conference games, they are a bit all over.

The main thing I took from those conference standings is that it is still very early in the season, and we're just 5 points out of first. 2 wins.

At Ferris this weekend. I'd be happy with a split. We need to get a win against a good team, and Ferris seems to be doing well so far.

Do we see more of Racine this weekend? Does Rutledge get another shot? Do you think they'll split games this weekend?

I'm headed up to Big Rapids for Saturday's game. I will attempt to be as loud as the "dawg pound" or whatever their student section is.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

alfablue said:
While we are not the most talented team in the world, I do think this is a big issue. Maybe we can't be the best team in the country, but if they really mentally got into the game, they can beat most teams out there. They had dominat times against most teams- but those seemed to result in little, and once something bad happened, the wheels came off.

I'm now worried that the only way out of the hole they are digging will be to be the last team to lift the Mason Cup. other than that, even with a good second half, it will need a bad second from a lot of other teams to put us high enough to get in on merit.
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I'd rather not be the most talented team if they dog it defensively like our team. I'd rather have a group of guys that places their priority on the defensive end, especially since our goaltenders are struggling. Pretty sad when your top line is in( -) territory, yet your captain is tied for the NCAA lead in goals. This is the first time I can remember a Michigan team that has given up more goals than they scored since... the late 80's. They have given up 20! goals in the past 5 games. Pathetic.
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Remember when we were good and Ferris sucked? Those were the days...
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Well I'm in Big Rapids tonight so maybe they'll play better. Certainly it can't be any worse. Right? Right??!?
 
Re: Michigan Wolverines: 2012-2013 Season thread!!!!!!!

Let's hope this article, and Coach's decision to scratch AG, is right on...

http://www.michigandaily.com/node/69578

Liz Vukelich: Hockey can get back on track in December


By Liz Vukelich, Daily Sports Writer
Published December 2, 2012

BIG RAPIDS — It’s funny how much the Michigan hockey team likes December.

Go back to last season, when a Wolverine squad in the midst of a familiar fall slump trekked to Alaska during the first weekend of December. Friday night loss, then a Saturday night win. Commence a Michigan tear through the remainder of the month that culminated in a Great Lakes Invitational title.

Now back to the present day. Michigan, severely underperforming, visited Ferris State for a series that straddled November and December. Friday night loss, Saturday night shootout win.

November is like a time bomb. Michigan knows the number of games in the first half of the season is waning and that it has to get on better CCHA footing before a difficult second half kicks in.

Michigan coach Red Berenson is good at avoiding the panic zone when the team falters. The players? It’s trickier. It’s been clear to see how easily the team has gotten down on itself during games — how a one-goal deficit has turned into two, then three, then five, with the Wolverines rarely coming back to put a point on the board.

So when the calendar changed this weekend, it seemed Michigan’s game plan also changed from Friday to Saturday night.

“I thought we played harder and better,” Berenson said. “Even though they got some momentum at times in the game, our team hung in there.”

It started with putting together a full 60 minutes. Though walking away from Saturday night with two points instead of three wasn’t ideal, the players still celebrated like they had won the whole weekend. When things don’t go your way, everything gets magnified, and two points look a lot better than none.

Instead of having only one strong period on Saturday, Michigan had three — you don’t make it to a sudden-death shootout without everyone on the team pulling their weight.

The defense put in more effort to clear the zone and clear out the crease to assist freshman goalie Steve Racine when the Bulldogs swarmed the goal. The offense finally started firing on multiple cylinders, with the three goals each coming from different players.

Oh, and don’t discredit the magic of puck luck, either. Just ask Racine about the shot he stopped on the goal line between a post and a player’s skate. The Wolverines haven’t had that kind of luck lately.

“For us to come back and establish the weekend with a tie (and) shootout win is big for us,” said senior forward A.J. Treais. “I think that everyone’s just all in right now. Everyone’s playing defense … everyone’s bought into the system now.”

And then there’s mentality.

It’s not all about staying clear-headed, though that does have a lot to do with the Wolverines’ performance — off-ice mindsets have just as much to do with it.

Just look at sophomore Alex Guptill, one of Michigan’s staple forwards, who didn’t even make the trip to Big Rapids.

Berenson said he wasn’t happy with Guptill’s “day-to-day approach to the game, the team, his work ethic and his performance.” Is it hard scratching someone who should be a top scorer while less productive forwards see ice time? Yeah. But for a team that has lacked the mental conditioning to make it through a game, Berenson needed someone that was all in. His gamble of a better attitude trumping a less effective player didn’t hurt on Saturday.

Does this weekend mark the turning point in the Wolverines’ underachieving season? Perhaps. An upcoming bye week gives Michigan extra practice time to readjust before playing Western Michigan.

But the best thing about facing the Broncos? It will still be December. And maybe the Wolverines can hold on to that December magic that’s been so good to them before.

— Vukelich can be reached at elizavuk@umich.edu or on Twitter @LizVukelich
 
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