Re: THE University of Michigan 2010-2011 Season Thread
Pardon me but analysis of your next opponent is hardly a mantra. Looking for any weakness, however minor, is the natural thing to do, especially when a last place team is going up against a first place team.. Your comment, to me, sounded like they were considering Hunwick as a major weakness for UM which really wasn't the case. When your team averages less than two goals per game, you look at anything and everthing.
FWIW, there's a decent possibility that Solway will be back for this weekend's series.
Also, FWIW, in Hammond's last 11 games (basically since he became the #1 goalie) he has a 1.91 gaa and .941 save percentage, which is pretty much on par with Hunwick.
Seriously, though, I'm just happy that we're still playing and showing improvement. Considering that we didn't know if we would still have a team after the 2009 - 2010 season I'm, actually, ecstatic!
I understand your POV, but IMO it was tactless to make an ignorant comment like taking advantage of his stature, especially when Hunwick's stats disprove the statement. It certainly never affected Jeff Lerg. Hunwick may be a weak link in the sense that Michigan's defense led the CCHA in GA and GPG average (2.13 last I checked), so if BG can manage to score more than their <2 GPG, and keep Michigan from scoring their average of 3.5 GPG, especially at Yost, I guess targeting the goaltending would be the only area to exploit. I guarantee you, without Hunwick Michigan doesn't win the CCHA regular season, though.
Overall, Hunwick's 16-7-4, 2.31 GAA and .920 save % for the season is solid. Hammond is a good goaltender also, but instead of posting his last 11 games (with 6 of those against NMU and MSU-two of poorer offenses in the CCHA) look at the whole body of his work, also. 6-15-3, 2.50 GAA .918 sv%- which is impressive considering the team's GF/GA disparity. I think Hammond will be an x-factor this weekend- but in his last 11 outings, he has only faced a team as offensively talented as Michigan once- Notre Dame. (WMU is pretty decent, too and those were good outings.) Hunwick, on the other hand, faced Miami, Alaska and WMU inside a similar 11 game window and was 4-2, with a higher than average GAA during that stretch. The difference is, he only had one poor outing he could be faulted for in those six games, against WMU.
BTW- what's wrong with Solway? His 5-10-15 will be needed. He usually plays well against Michigan.
I guess if I was BG, I'd concentrate more on shutting down Michigan's offense than worrying about their goaltending/defensive weaknesses. It will be an easier task considering how inconsistent the Michigan offense has been, and how anemic BG's is. BG can capitalize on the mistakes they are given by defensive pressure- and based on certain Friday games this season, Michigan can give those away in transition. This is where Hunwick has bailed his team out, especially games where Michigan has been uncharacteristically loose and outshot at home.
