Michigan's No. 14 hockey team will play in the Big Ten semifinals this Saturday. The games are the same as last year, the same as the year before, and the same as the year before. The Wolverines are almost certain to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season.
However, it feels a little different this time around, so it's no wonder you notice the difference. This year's team is unstable, especially compared to the past two seasons. The team is plagued by a dichotomy between an offense fueled by a strong power play and a defense struggling due to inconsistent goaltending. It's a talented team, but a flawed team. That makes this Michigan team feel different than the last two teams that ended their seasons with Frozen 4.
But just because the Wolverines are imperfect doesn't mean they aren't where they should be. In a sport where luck on the bounce is as important as talent on the ice, Michigan is at its best time of year. And as long as that is the case, they have a chance to have postseason success like they have the past two seasons.
So don't write off the Wolverines.
If two weeks ago it looked like Michigan would miss the NCAA Tournament, it is now just a few wins away from the exact spot it has been in the past two seasons. Washing away their lowest seeding in the Big Ten Tournament since 2019 and the fact they have to win on the road in the conference semifinals, this team is on the rise at the perfect time. This Michigan team has imperfections, but every team has imperfections, including the last two teams.
Michigan's offense is on a roll this year, scoring 4.3 points per game, the highest number since 2016. On the other hand, the defense is the same as last season, with him scoring 3.1 points per game. So why on earth is this Michigan team on the bubble? Why is this team left out?
Mainly in the 3rd term. The Wolverines played No. 12 Massachusetts in October, No. 5 Wisconsin in January, No. 6 Michigan State in February, and even won in overtime against No. 8 Minnesota two weeks ago. We made a big mistake in the third period. If Michigan doesn't regularly break third-period leads, it could be ranked No. 1 in pairwise, the national comparison that determines NCAA seeds. Instead, it sits in 10th place.
But the University of Michigan appears to have realized its failure in the third period. In two close games in the Big Ten quarterfinals, the Wolverines prevailed in the third period against rival Notre Dame.
“They're one of the toughest teams to play against in the Big Ten, if not in the country,” Michigan coach Brandon Nowrat said Saturday. “We have to win everything because we are really tough around the net front and our defense is good. So we have to play against a team like this and get space around the net and score and defend goals. If you can do that, you'll be in a good position.”
That's exactly where Michigan corrected its third-period flaws. Instead of giving in, two shutouts in the third period earned them a spot in the semifinals for the fourth straight year. Even graduate goaltender Jake Barczewski, who hurt the Wolverines here and there in an up-and-down season, made two big-time saves in the final minutes of Saturday's game.
Michigan is in a good position, even if it's not as rosy as it has been in the past. He's four wins away from rejoining the Frozen 4 roster, even if its flaws make it seem unlikely.
We know this team isn't as dominant as the last two teams. A blown lead, a disastrous third period, and a soft goal got them through — the Wolverines' frustration was palpable. But all that matters is that they're here again, almost clinching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament and playing in the Big Ten semifinals. And to get here, they had to overcome the very problems that have often proved fatal this season.
“We got two shutouts this weekend. That's huge for us mentally and for our confidence,” sophomore forward TJ Hughes said. “So we're just going to build on that. We know we can finish the game now and we can all trust each other now. So we're going to continue to do this. , I plan to continue.”
To be sure, it is always possible to revert to contradiction. All the supposed improvements can crumble when exposed to better competition. This coming Saturday, the Wolverines will play Minnesota, the same team they beat in four of six periods just two weeks ago. After this, they will face Michigan State, who won the season series for the first time since 2010. But if Michigan plays like it did this weekend, those opponents won't be as scary.
Therein lies the opportunity for the next two weeks. The Wolverines will atone for the sins of a season that is reaching its climax. On paper, it's just a few steps from the familiar postseason grounds, even if the road looks a little different in reality. This season may not have been as successful as the previous two seasons, but what matters most is the postseason results.
If Michigan continues to score at its current rate and can repeat its defense in the third period against the Irish, it will be as fearsome a team as it has been the last two times. Aside from the obvious differences, they just need to win a few more games to get back to where they were before. The way they handled Notre Dame is a positive sign that they can continue winning until the end of the postseason.
Will it reach there? Maybe not, but the uncertainty of playoff hockey gives the Wolverines as much of a chance as anyone. And if each game can end or extend the season, so can playing your best hockey of the season. Just because a team is a favorite doesn't mean it has to be perfect. But you have to take advantage of that shot.
As long as that is the case, Michigan State is exactly where it needs to be.
