Three Things I Think: Big Ten, Jan. 19
Posted by: Jashvina ShahThe return to Big Ten play featured a couple of ties and a very heated Minnesota-Wisconsin rematch. Penn State emerged on top of the conference standings, with a 5-2-1 record. After a 10-6 win over Ohio State, Michigan is second. The Gophers moved up from No. 5 to No. 3, while the Badgers are still in the basement.
“Heated” doesn’t accurately describe the closing minutes of Saturday’s Gophers-Badgers match. A very, very ugly hit from Eddie Wittchow on Leon Bristedt. That resulted in a full-out brawl – which includes Brady Skjei running and tackling a Badger and Joel Rumpel grabbing Skjei in a chokehold.
It was crazy.
On Friday night, the Gophers dominated the Badgers. But Wisconsin scored two goals late to tie the game, and then won in the shootout. It was a pretty disappointing result for Minnesota, which has been struggling lately. The Gophers are now 18th in the PairWise. Michigan passed them and moved up to No. 17, now the highest-ranked Big Ten team.
Michigan State and Penn State tied on Friday, but Penn State’s offense exploded in a win over the Spartans on Friday. Maybe that’s not the right word, because I think “exploded” would lend itself more for the 10 goals Michigan scored over Ohio State.
Anyway, Penn State has one of the best lines in the country of Taylor Holstrom, Casey Bailey and David Goodwin. They might not be as flashy as Dylan Larkin, Alex Kile and Zach Hyman, but they’re pretty solid. Penn State slipped in the PairWise after a slow post-break start, but is now 21st.
Going back to Ohio State. Anthony Greco recorded his second hat trick, and joined Robert Morris’ Cody Wydo and Canisius’ Ralph Cuddemi as the only players in the nation with two hat tricks. If it weren’t for injuries, the Buckeyes could have competed in the weak Big Ten.
(After the jump: Why I still don’t trust Michigan, why Penn State differs from its Big Ten counterparts, and Mike Eaves gives the best analogies.)
I can’t trust Michigan yet
I knew the Wolverines would defeat the Buckeyes and score a slew of goals. Ohio State has given up a few tallies this season, especially with an injury-filled roster. I wasn’t expecting 20 goals though, and it was pretty impressive to watch.
Michigan has so many impressive players, including its top line of Zach Hyman, Dylan Larkin and Alex Kile. They’re incredible players to watch, and Hyman and Larkin have really good chemistry. They showed that on Friday, on Hyman’s first goal.
Michigan’s offense now ranks first in the country, averaging 4.15 goals per game. Zach Hyman and Dylan Larkin are third and fourth in the country in points per game, respectively. Their offense is incredibly impressive.
But, offense doesn’t win championships.
And Michigan’s defense is still lacking. The six goals the Wolverines allowed to Ohio State – a team still rife with injuries – proves that. And Michigan allows 3.10 goals per game, which ranks 46th in the country. Poor defense won’t take the Wolverines far in the NCAA tournament.
Why I trust Penn State
For the same reason I don’t trust Michigan. The Wolverines are explosive, but Penn State is an all-around, solid team. Guy Gadowsky’s teams always have a reputation of playing hard each night, and this Penn State squad is the same.
Penn State also runs with the shoot-as-much-as-you-can mentality. So yes, when you shoot a lot of pucks at the net, some will go in. But Penn State has some talented players in Holstrom, Bailey and Goodwin. They’re strong offensively and defensively.
Mike Eaves still gives the best analogies
Before the season started, Eaves said his wife compared freshmen to puppies. He revisited the analogy after Wisconsin’s loss to Minnesota.
“Much like puppies in a box they always want to get out, when they do something good you want to scratch them on the ear,” Eaves said, per Eric Vegoe.
“Next thing you know they’re crapping on the carpet. We crapped on the carpet tonight.”
Done laughing? Eaves’ coach sums up Wisconsin’s season well. But the freshman quote doesn’t apply to Joel Rumpel, who put on another career performance in Wisconsin’s tie against Minnesota.
The Badgers finally reached the double digits in scoring, as Grant Besse has 11 points and Morgan Zulinick has 10. Besse, a former Mr. Hockey, was one of Wisconsin’s best players during the series.
(I shared the above quote with my sister-in-law, who has a dog and a puppy, and she couldn’t stop laughing either. It’s pretty accurate, at least for puppies.)
