The last time the No. 2 Michigan hockey team faced No. 13 Wisconsin, it didn’t go so well.
A 6-1 loss — defined by a lack of discipline — left a sour taste in the Wolverines’ mouth that failed to disappear. That bitterness became evidently clear once Michigan failed to respond to four Badger-goals, repeating a night the Wolverines preferred to forget. Whether it was on the defensive or offensive end, the trend continued Friday: Wisconsin remains the hurdle Michigan can’t seem to clear.
“What I do know is, the last time we played (Wisconsin) here, they could have won both games,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said Tuesday. “And they beat us up more than anybody did on our home ice.”
Coming off a successful weekend against No. 6 Penn State, the Wolverines traveled to Madison riding a wave of confidence. That confidence, however, only masked the fear flowing throughout Michigan each step it took closer to the ice. And while the Wolverines opened the scoring in an effort to make a statement, the Badgers bludgeoned Michigan to its end, exposing vulnerabilities that triggered déjà vu in regards to the Wolverines’ 4-1 loss.
That constant hump Michigan continues to encounter is its penalty minutes served. The Wolverines are ranked No. 3 in the NCAA for team penalty minutes, with an average of 17.27 served per game. Regardless of the penalties — petty or just — the fluctuating number of men on the ice disrupts the flow of the game. And Michigan is no stranger to this problem.
In November, the Wolverines battled for 86 minutes down a man against Wisconsin. Their inability to settle into the game ruined their chances at sweeping another Big Ten opponent, and that came back to haunt them tonight. Serving a fraction of the penalty minutes compared to last time was certainly an improvement, however enough damage was done to hurt the stability of Michigan and its goal of leaving Madison with a sweep.
“I think they got to their game,” Naurato said Friday. “We didn’t.”
But if there’s anything else proven from November, it’s that the Wolverines can beat the Badgers. A 7-4 victory Nov. 7 demonstrated that when disciplined, Michigan can accomplish great feats.
It’s not to say the game was easily won. A late goal from sophomore forward Will Horcoff — the lone scorer for the Wolverines tonight — gave Michigan its first edge over its opponent before a flood of empty net goals nailed Wisconsin’s coffin shut. So, it can be done. The question is rather if the Wolverines will pull a win out of their back pocket.
“We need to come back to how we do things,” senior forward T.J. Hughes said. “We’re a great team. We’re the best team in the country, when we play hard, when we have energy and then when we make our plays. So just get back to that confidence, that swagger and we should be good.”
Michigan has climbed the ranks through a series of challenges. And the Badgers are another example of how every team possesses its Achilles’ heel. The Wolverines have another night to try and rewrite the narrative surrounding their current relationship with Wisconsin. However, the victory will need to come from a place of strength and diligence from Michigan as it, once again, attempts to hurdle the Badgers’ tries at exploiting that weakness.
