Hyman for Hobey

Michigan 7 - Wisconsin 4

Twenty two minutes into this game, everything had gone wrong. Steve Racine had been pulled. A Wisconsin offense that averaged 1.78 goals per game had scored four times and the Badger power play which had been operating at 10% had 3 of the goals.

The Wolverines were disconnected; Berenson's line shakeups had put their best players in new spots and the Badgers dominated the wider ice sheet. This was a trap game and Michigan had fallen right into the trap.

So, with their back against the wall they went to work. Eventually the Wolverines cycle game was too much for a young Badger team to handle and they ground Wisconsin until it was 4-3 and the lead was hanging by a thread. All Michigan needed was the tying goal to break the back of this team.

What they got instead was a statement goal for Zach Hyman's Hobey Baker candidacy, weaving behind the net and finding himself alone with Joel Rumpel and going top shelf on his backhand to tie the game. From there, Alex Kile had goal #5 on a feed from Shuart after beating out an icing, Selman got #6 off a perfect feed from Larkin and Copp put one in the empty net for the 7th.

What separates this Michigan team from years past is that they score goals. A lot of goals. It's a mental thing. Previous Michigan teams that fell into holes like this folded, driving wide all night in transition and taking shots with no chance of going in. With this team it doesn't really seem to matter anymore what the situation is, they get to work low, battle below the icing line and the puck finds the net.

It doesn't hurt having two of the best players in college hockey either, and Justin Selman was the benefactor of that line tonight getting the comeback started and registering his 1st career hat trick. In his last 4 games, he's got 5 goals. A career high.

There are still major issues that need to be fixed on defense and in net, but when this team is rolling they're fun to watch. We can enjoy it for one night.