Weekend Preview: Big Ten, Dec. 28
Posted by: Jashvina ShahWe ease back from the holiday break with a few tournaments, as Michigan and Michigan State will play in the 50th Great Lakes Invitational. Penn State kicks off the second half of its season against Robert Morris in the Three Rivers Classic.
Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin are idle this week. That’s good news for Minnesota, as the Gophers are missing Ryan Collins, Leon Bristedt and Hudson Fasching. The trio made the cut for their respect World Junior Championship rosters, while Ohio State’s Janik Moser will skate for Germany.
Also on the U.S. roster are Michigan’s Dylan Larkin, Tyler Motte, J.T. Compher and Zach Werenski, making this weekend even more difficult for Michigan.
Michigan Tech and Ferris State will join Michigan and Michigan State in the GLI. Michigan Tech will probably win the tournament.
At the Three Rivers Classic, Colgate and Western Michigan will join the two Pennsylvania teams.
The WJC kicked off on Friday, and the U.S. defeated Finland in the shootout.
Michigan vs. Michigan Tech on Dec. 28 at 3:30 p.m.; vs. TBA on Dec. 29 (Great Lakes Invitational)
The Wolverines resume their season against one of the country’s top teams in Michigan Tech. These two faced off in October, when the Wolverines traveled to Houghton, Mich., and lost both games by a combined score of 10-3. This is the 34th time the teams are squaring off in the GLI.
Michigan Tech head coach Mel Pearson was previously a head coach with the Wolverines, while Husky assistant coach Bill Muckalt played for the Wolverines.
Since the losses to Michigan Tech, the Wolverines have stabilized, and its offense ranks third in the country. But some of its top scorers – Dylan Larkin and Zach Werenski – joined Tyler Motte and J.T. Compher at the WJC. Those are big losses for the Wolverines.
The Huskies recently split a series with Minnesota-Duluth, and have won three of its last four contests. Michigan Tech is currently tied for first in the WHCA with Minnesota State. The Wolverines fell 5-1 to Boston College on Dec. 13, snapping a four-game winning streak.
Tanner Kero has 18 points to lead the Huskies, while Jamie Phillips has a .939 save percentage – tied for fifth in the country. Phillips has started every game this season.
Depending on Sunday’s result, Michigan will face either the Spartans or Ferris State.
Prediction: The WJC losses will be too much for Michigan. A third-place finish for the Wolverines, with Michigan Tech winning the tournament.
Michigan State vs. Ferris State on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.; vs. TBA on Dec. 29 (Great Lakes Invitational)
Michigan State entered the break after a crazy win over Clarkson, where the Spartans scored a season-high six goals.
These teams met in the end of October. Ferris State took the first game 1-0, but the Spartans rebounded for a 4-1 win the next night.
Michael Ferrantino leads the Spartans with 14 points. Matt Berry is second with 14 points, but he missed Michigan State’s last two games. Jake Hildebrand has started every game, and holds a .902 save percentage.
C.J. Motte, brother of Michigan’s Tyler Motte, has a .939 save percentage – tied for sixth in the country. Matt Robertson leads Ferris State’s attack with 17 points. The Bulldogs swept Lake Superior State in their last action before break, but fell to Wisconsin – one of the worst teams in the country – to end November. This is Ferris State’s first appearance at the GLI, and the Bulldogs are tied for fourth in the WCHA.
Prediction: If Michigan State’s offense has anything left from the win over Clarkson, they might win.
Penn State (9-4-2) vs. Robert Morris (11-2-3) on Dec. 29 at 7:30 p.m.; vs. TBA on Dec. 30 (Three Rivers Classic)
Penn State enters the Three Rivers Classic after winning two games at Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions have won four of their last six, and sit atop of the Big Ten conference.
Robert Morris is coming off a series split against Mercyhurst. To date, the Colonials have played just one out of conference opponent when they opened the season against LSSU.
Seven times this season the Colonials have scored five or more goals, and their 4.12 goals per game average leads the country. Cody Wydo’s 25 points rank third in the country.
Penn State’s 3.47 goals per game ranks third in the country. The attack is led by Casey Bailey and Taylor Holstrom, as each have 18 points. Holstrom has missed three games this season, including the weekend at Wisconsin. But the forward, who averages 1.50 points per game, will return for the Three Rivers Classic.
Dalton Izyk and Terry Shafer have shared the load in Rober Morris’ net, while Matthew Skoff has earned the most starts for Penn State.
Depending on Monday’s results, the Nittany Lions will face either Colgate or Western Michigan. Colgate is on a three-game losing streak, and has not seen last year’s success. The Raiders just became healthy before break, but will be without forward Mike Borkowski for the rest of the season.
Kyle Baun has 14 points for the Raiders, while Tyson Spink has 13. Tyson Spink played 14 games this season without his linemate and twin, Tylor. Tylor Spink missed the beginning of the season and returned for Colgate’s game against Providence. When playing together, Colgate’s top line of Baun and the Spink twins was one of the best in the country last season.
Western Michigan is undefeated in its last four games, which includes a Shillelagh Tournament championship. Justin Kovacs has 15 points this season and 14 assists. Lukas Hafner started the last seven games and holds a .923 save percentage on the season.
This one’s hard. Colgate has struggled, but being healthy is huge for its offense. Western Michigan seems to be picking up, but it defeated Ohio State and Notre Dame at the Shillelagh Tournament – which doesn’t say much.
Prediction: Penn State is an all-around, consistent hockey team. Let’s go with Penn State.
