Michigan Hockey Preview: The No. 1 Wolverines host reeling Notre Dame

SB Nation

The No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (16-4) are finally back after what felt like the longest winter break in several years. The last time we saw this team in non-exhibition play, the boys had just wrapped up

a split with Michigan State on Dec. 6. With a month off to recharge, refresh, or compete at World Juniors, the Wolverines are back to continue the pursuit of their first national championship since 1998.

First up, the Fighting Irish. After a physicality-fueled 3-2-1 start under first-year head coach Brock Sheahan, Notre Dame has plummeted to 4-13-1 and last place in the Big Ten. The Irish have only won one game since Oct. 25 and have dropped five straight dating back to Thanksgiving weekend. Last weekend, Notre Dame was swept by Western Michigan 8-0 across two games. But despite these new lows, nothing could salvage a season or spark a second-half run quite like a victory over the top team in the country in their own barn.

The first time these teams met, Michigan was able to sweep the Irish on the strength of a white-hot power play and a stalwart goaltender. The Wolverines netted four goals with an extra attacker in a 5-3 victory in the first game — a game that featured a combined 83 penalty minutes. Notre Dame’s strategy was to overpower the Wolverines with physicality and split the weekend, and it almost worked.

In Game 2, the Irish came out all gas and took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. More impactful was an (un)intentional knee-on-knee hit that ended Michigan defenseman Henry Mew’s season. However, the Wolverines were able to tie the game in the third and Will Horcoff won it in overtime. Jack Ivankovic posted a strong 30-save performance in Game 1 and a .925 save percentage for the entire weekend. The point Notre Dame received in the standings for the overtime loss is the only conference point the Irish have earned this season. Since then, the teams have gone in opposite directions.

In preparation for round two, head coach Brandon Naurato and Michigan will look to keep its top-ranked scoring offense rocking. The three-headed monster of Horcoff (19G, 9A), Michael Hage (10G, 18A) and T.J. Hughes (9G, 19A) are undoubtedly excited to pepper the nation’s fourth-worst scoring defense and goalie Nicholas Kempf (.893 save percentage). However, although Kempf’s and Notre Dame’s defensive numbers are bad, it took Michigan 40 shots to net two goals the last time these teams faced each other. Expect the Irish to live up to their namesake and show some fight in Ann Arbor.

On the other end of the ice, the Irish must find a way to resuscitate their offense. Over this five-game skid, Notre Dame is averaging less than two goals per game and has only scored two goals total across its last nine periods. The burden of breaking this drought falls on the entire team, but look for either the 6-foot-6 Sutter Muzzatti (7G, 8A) or old friend Evan Werner (7G, 7A) to take it upon themselves to find the back of the net. After Michigan’s three-game scoreless streak last season, Werner is becoming well-versed at playing on inept offenses. Chicken or the egg?

Key to the game

Let 5 vs. 5 decide it. You can’t fake desperation, and no team is as desperate as the Irish in the Big Ten. Expect Notre Dame to come out fast, physical and ready to take advantage of Michigan’s time off. The Irish already have a series under their belt since the break, and although they didn’t necessarily set the ice on fire, the time on task and experience will give them a slight advantage in terms of preparation.

Michigan must be ready to play fast from puck-drop, and more importantly, play disciplined. Despite their multitude of flaws, the Irish are outstanding on special teams. Notre Dame’s power play is ranked fourth nationally — second in the Big Ten only behind Michigan — and its penalty kill is also a top-10 unit. The Irish will take risks to break this goalless drought and will try to lure Michigan down into the mud. But if Michigan can stay poised and let even-strength play decide this series, the Wolverines should be looking at a sweep and matching their win total from last season.