Maize & Blue Finishes Strong to Enter Postseason Conversation
2/25/2018 7:59:00 AM | Ice Hockey, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The regular season was a success for the University of Michigan ice hockey team because it exceeded expectations and entered "conversations" where it matters most.
When the 16 teams making the NCAA Tournament are discussed, Michigan is now there, rising to a tie for No. 9 in the PairWise Rankings after beating Arizona State, 5-3, Saturday night (Feb. 24) for its fifth straight win.
When contenders in the Big Ten Tournament are discussed, the Wolverines are there, too. And at the beginning of the season -- even at the beginning of this calendar year -- they seemed to be miles and miles away from that.
Michigan coach Mel Pearson said practice habits improved over the year "with great intensity and great competition" and that's allowed for significant growth.
"We were picked to finish sixth out of seven teams," Pearson said of the preseason poll. "That's not very flattering, and I think they had something to prove, and they still do."
The Wolverines (18-13-3) pulled away from the middle of the pack to finish third in the Big Ten, earning the right to host Wisconsin, which finished sixth, in the new best-of-three format in the conference tournament quarterfinals that begin Friday (March 2).
"I like the format," said Pearson. "I think it's great that we're bringing some of your most important games back to campus."
The tournament had rotated between Detroit and St. Paul, Minnesota, with sparse crowds.
"I think it will be a good experience -- especially because we have home ice," said Michigan senior defenseman Cutler Martin. "We earned that home ice, and so we get a little bit of an advantage."
The Wolverines were 8-10-2 after getting swept in the first weekend conference series in January by Notre Dame. But you could see something was brewing in that pair of 2-1 losses to the Big Ten regular-season champions, and Michigan went 10-3-1 from that point forward.
"That was the turning point," Pearson said.
Martin added: "Playing a team like Notre Dame so close that first series. Even though we lost, that started to give us some momentum seeing we could keep up with anybody."
The Wolverines actually swept No. 1 Notre Dame last weekend, winning 4-2 at South Bend and then 1-0 at the Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines got their fifth sweep of the season this weekend, beating the Sun Devils twice by identical 5-3 scores.
What personality has this team forged in the last 14 games?
Pearson described it as: "A team that's going to play fast, a team that's going to score goals, a team that's got good goal-tending. But just a good, hard-working, honest team. We're not a team of superstars. We've got some high-end guys, but we've got a lot of blue-collar guys and that's how we need to play.
"I think we've established that. The guys have bought into the systems, and have been rewarded because of that. And good for them. There's talent on this team. Coach Berenson left some good pieces here (after retiring one year ago). It was just getting them to buy into the change. We just had to get better defensively, and that's where it all started. We play hard, play smart and play together -- that's one of the sayings we have in the locker room."
His players echoed that reasoning in explaining the turnaround.
"We just really started to come together," said junior center Cooper Marody, who leads the Big Ten with 30 points and has 41 points in all games. "It's a lot about us having to make the choice for ourselves, and since after Christmas we've had contributions up and down the lineup.
"If someone gets hurt or might not have their best game, the person who comes in steps up. We do a lot of things as far as out-working opponents and getting the puck deep. Everyone's been battling hard, and it's just that willingness and commitment to the team that's really helped us be effective."
Freshman defenseman Quinn Hughes added: "Coop kind of hit it on the head for sure. Everyone starting buying in, and this team really cares about each other. That's the really cool part about being on this team. Everyone knows what we want, and wants to succeed. So, we just realized we had to play deep, protect our net, and then the offensive chances will come."
Senior right wing Tony Calderone, who leads the Big Ten with 16 goals and has 19 in all games, scored a pair on Saturday. Sophomore left wing James Sanchez scored twice on Friday, and over the weekend eight different players tallied the 10 total goals.
"I like our depth," said Pearson. "I've been preaching that all the second half (of the season) -- whether it's (freshman) Jack Becker stepping up (scoring seven goals since Jan. 1) or Mike Pastujov last night or Adam Winborg tonight. So, we're getting contributions from a lot of different guys.
"I like where this team has come from, and where we're headed."
The offense has been good, and the defense has become very good.
Hughes, only 18 and projected to be among the Top 10 NHL Draft picks in June, is paired with big and athletic Joseph Cecconi (Dallas Stars fifth-round pick, 2015) to form one of the top defensive combos in the nation.
Cutler Martin and Nicholas Boka (Minnesota Wild sixth-round selection, 2015) provide a mean, physical defensive pairing. Heady senior Sam Piazza and Luke Martin (Carolina Panthers second-round pick, 2017) also are very effective together on defense.
The forwards have improved defensively, too.
However, Pearson pointed to goalie Hayden Lavigne stepping up his play and claiming the No. 1 spot after alternating earlier with fellow sophomore Jack LaFontaine, as the biggest reason why the defense became effective.
"It all starts with goaltending," said Pearson, "and once he plays well, and Hayden has played extremely well ... but some of the pairs we're established -- Quinn and Chico (Cecconi) have play extremely well. So, there's been some continuity there, and that's really helped."
Michigan played outstanding defense by overcoming a 5-on-3 advantage for Arizona State over a stretch of 1:30. The Wolverines killed both penalties to preserve a two-goal lead Saturday.
"I think the key point in the game was when we killed the 5-on-3 early in the third period," said Pearson. "That was huge, and our penalty killers did an awesome job.
"(Lavigne) had the really nice save, and you're going to have to make a save in a situation like that, and he gave us the save we needed."
So, the regular season finale in Pearson's first season as head coach kept the winning streak alive.
"It's been everything that I hoped for," said Pearson, "and it's been a lot of fun getting to know our players and watching the growth. It wasn't long ago we were below .500, and since that point we've really taken off since Christmas."
Pearson credited his full-time assistants, Brian Wiseman and Bill Muckalt, goaltending coach Steve Shields and undergraduate assistant Jeff Tambellini, a second-team All-American in 2005 and an NHL first-round pick who played 12 seasons professionally.
"Our assistant coaches have been tremendous," said Pearson. "They are fantastic. I'm very fortunate to have them, and our team is, too. They've set the tone on attention to detail and how we go about our daily practices and our routine, and our guys have bought into that and fed off of that."
Michigan got within one win of the Frozen Four in 2016, and then missed the NCAA Tournament last season. Now they're knocking on the door of the "Big Dance" once more.
"If we're fortunate to get in the Big Dance," said Pearson, "anything can happen. I've seen it. I've been involved in it for many years (as Berenson's assistant) and two of the last three years (as Michigan Tech's head coach). So, I've seen crazy things.
"We've just got to keep playing like we've been playing, and, hopefully, we can get in the Big Dance."
Cutler Martin added: "We feel like we can take on anybody in the country."
When you enter the conversation, that's what happens. Your team gains confidence, and can dream its greatest dreams.
March could prove very interesting for these Wolverines.
