No. 5 Minnesota (21-9-2 overall, 12-4-0 Big Ten) vs Michigan (10-17-3 overall, 3-11-2 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, March 3, 2017
Location: Yost Ice Arena | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Puck Drop: 5:33 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNews
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
Date: Saturday, March 4, 2017
Location: Yost Ice Arena | Ann Arbor, Mich.
Puck Drop: 7:33 p.m. CT
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: BTN2Go
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
It’s a matchup of college hockey’s two winningest teams ever as the Gophers (first) take on the Wolverines (second).
The Gophers took the first two games this season with wins of 5-2 and 4-2 at Mariucci.
Michigan is just 10-17-3 on the year, meaning (obviously) they’ll have to win the Big Ten Tournament to make the postseason. While this weekend’s series won’t impact that, the Wolverines are still trying to build some type of momentum for a March run.
Michigan is just 1-4 in their last five, and the road doesn’t get any easier with Minnesota coming to town.
The Wolverines are NOT a great – or even average – possession team. Their even strength corsi for percentage is just 43.7%, third to last in the entire country. With the game evolving to focus more on possession, this isn’t an encouraging sign for Michigan.
Center Cooper Marody was out for the first half of the season, but has looked strong since returning. The sophomore has five goals and 11 points in 14 games.
STORYLINE CENTRAL
When the Wolverines are seven games below .500, they don’t receive a ton of media coverage. I guess it makes sense, but, man, so few things to pick from for this section. Instead, here’s a fun video of Vinni Lettieri firing in a goal on a penalty shot against Michigan.
QUOTES
Don Lucia
On potentially overlooking Michigan due to a down season:
“There’s an old saying, fear no one, respect everyone. It’s never easy going to Yost Arena, as we know. I think that’s one of the great buildings in all of college hockey. They always play with great energy in their home rink. They always start out really fast in the first period. I’ve always felt that’s the key against Michigan, you have to play a really good first period. A lot of times you go in their rink and you have to survive the first ten minutes because they’re usually coming hard and fast.
“They’re still a really good skating team. They’re getting good goaltending. Their issue this year is they haven’t scored a lot of goals. They went into Ohio State and won. They were tied with Wisconsin in Madison the week before, in both games I believe, in the third period. We just want to continue to play well, continue to grow as a team, and just like last weekend, hopefully still be in first place at the end of the weekend.”
Vinni Lettieri
On what is special about playing at Yost Ice Arena:
“I love it because there is a big rivalry there, between us. They always have a great student turnout. It’s a historic building and every time we go there it’s packed. I love how loud it get’s there, too. It’s a big series for us and we need to make a step here.”