As alluded to in previous posts, Michigan’s third-quarter struggles were a significant issue – perhaps the significant issue in this one. An otherwise even game saw the halftime break do in the Maize and Blue.
Tempo Free
From the official box score, a look at the tempo-free stats:
| Penn 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Penn | ||
| Faceoff Wins | 14 | Faceoff Wins | 11 |
| Clearing | 13-14 | Clearing | 11-11 |
| Possessions | 28 | Possessions | 23 |
| Goals | 10 | Goals | 12 |
| Offensive Efficiency | .357 | Offensive Efficiency | .522 |
I’m unsure if this is how it really played out or if the Penn sports info folks are really stingy when it comes to starting a clear, but this was a really slow game. Only 51 total possessions, and both teams had great offensive performances (even more so for the Quakers than U-M).
Notes
The teams were tied at halftime, and the third quarter actually looks relatively even in a lot of stats. Michigan won the faceoff battle, and wasn’t crushed on clears either, making for an 8-7 Penn advantage in possession. Both teams launched 10 shots. The difference is in shot quality. Gerald Logan made three saves and Penn scored six goals, meaning nine of the 10 Quaker shots were on the frame. Michigan didn’t score and forced only four saves, meaning six of their 10 shots weren’t on cage. Michigan lost the quarter 6-0, and when the final margin is just two goals, there’s your Quaker victory.
Volume shooting, then, was at least something of a problem for Michigan. It hasn’t been a persistent issue over time, so it’s not one to worry about long-term, but 17 shots were off the cage. Ian King (who, it must be noted, is generally the best offensive player for Michigan) launched 14, only five of them on goal. Without paying the 14 bucks to watch the game – talk about Ivy League price inflation – I can only assume some of those were to stave off the shot clock (Michigan wasn’t hit with the timer once, per the box score), but you’d like to see more effective shooting.
Tough to criticize too much about the offense in a game where the offensive efficiency was above .350, but U-M did only assist on three of 10 goals. It’s apparent things weren’t quite as smooth execution-wise as desired.
The defense struggled, on the other hand. Allowing Penn to score on more than half their offensive possessions is not good, Bob. Yes, a slow game, but only 10 Quaker turnovers, and only four forced by the defense, is weak. Gerald Logan saved 10 shots while allowing 12 goals, so either he was very off his game, or a conservative plan by the coaches didn’t succeed in making things easier on him. Probably both. Penn assisted on six of their 12 tallies.
Ian King (despite the volume shooting noted above) was the offensive standout, with three goals and two assists – when he was on-target, he was getting it past the keeper more often than not. Kyle Jackson had a hat trick and Peter Kraus – who came off the bench, replaced on the starting attack by Andrew Roswell – had two goals of his own.
Brad Lott had yet another good game on faceoffs, taking every draw for Michigan and winning 56%. Penn wasn’t a good faceoff team last year, but you take signs of improvement and run with them. When the competition gets tougher, the results may be uglier, but for now, so far so good.
On the other side, Penn spread the love offensively, with six multi-point scorers. Pat Berkery (1G 2A) and Connor Keating (2G, 1A) had three apiece.
Two man-down goals for Penn (and one on the man-up for Michigan). Tough to win when the special teams have that type of letdown.
Elsewhere
Boxscore. U-M recap. Penn recap.
Up Next
Tomorrow’s the big one. Michigan at Detroit in Pontiac.