Fresh off a hate-filled, revenge sweep over Denver, Michigan (6-0) is now the top-ranked team in college hockey – at least according to the USHCO poll. But according to the NPI rankings – the analytics/witchcraft system used to determine NCAA Tournament seeding – the Wolverines are third; Western Michigan (4-0) is number one. The Broncos are backed by the nation’s best scoring defense and Michigan is fueled by the top offense; immovable object vs. unstoppable force; Goliath vs. Goliath.
Michigan and Western have played each of the last two years, with the home team winning every contest. This season, it will once again be a home-and-home, except the teams will play in Ann Arbor tonight before finishing the season series in Kalamazoo on Jan. 30. The one-game weekend format gives this weekend a special kind of championship feel. It may only be October, but fans could be in for another postseason preview tonight.
The Wolverines are led by four of the top-10 scorers in the country. Copy and paste from last week: Jayden Perron (9G, 6A) is the nation’s leader in points and goals, and Michael Hage (3G, 11A) is second in points and first in assists. Perron is riding an eight-game goal-scoring streak – and a 12-game points streak –dating back to last season and is playing like the best player in the country. Nipping at his heels is his teammate Hage, who is playing with complete command with and without the puck.
Nick Moldenhauer (1G, 8A) is off to the best start of his career and is fourth nationally with nine points. The surprise of the season, sophomore defenseman Drew Schock (3G, 5A), is right behind with eight. Cole McKinney (5G, 2A) should also be mentioned as the second-leading goal-scorer in college hockey and just outside the top-10 in total production. Through six games, eight Wolverines are playing at point-per-game pace, and the power play is still finding its footing.
The power play is currently converting at a .229 clip, which is tied with Denver for 17th nationally. Under Brandon Naurato, this unit has typically been closer to .30. However, the penalty-kill took massive strides against Denver. Although ranked 32nd nationally, this unit killed off nearly four straight minutes of 5-on-3 play to keep the game deadlocked. The three-man structure deserves its flowers, but the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week was the foundation of its success. Goalie Jack Ivankovic (.933) made 60 saves against the Pios and was the best player on either team. The sophomore is currently third nationally with 168 saves and first in the Big Ten. If he maintains this level, he will be a finalist for the Richter Award at the end of the season.
Western Michigan
Western Michigan is ranked fifth in the USHCO poll with its sights set on the top. Two years removed from the program’s first national championship, the Broncos are hungry for more.
Defensively, this team is as solid as they come. Through four games, Western has only allowed two goals, and only one during five-on-five play. Goaltender Quentin Miller’s .976 save percentage is the best in the country for any netminder with four or more starts. Offensively, the Broncos are nearly as potent.
Western is fourth nationally in scoring defense and first in scoring margin. Similar to Michigan, the Broncos get contributions from every line and D pairing. Freshman forward Adam Benák (2G, 5A) and blueliner Joona Väisänen (2G, 5A) lead this team in scoring, with old friend William Whitelaw (2G, 4A) rounding out the top three. Bobby Cowan (3G, 2A) leads the team with a trio of goals and even scored one against the Wolverines last season.
However, keep in mind, early-season numbers – similar to college football – can be skewed by competition. Western has played Notre Dame, a team in a hotly contested battle with Penn State for the worst team in the Big Ten, and Ferris State. Michigan plays Ferris State later this season and it is unknown whether the Bulldogs will have a win by late November. The Broncos are a stout team, don’t get me wrong, but the 90s Devils they are not.
Key to the game
Dominate the dot. Despite the new faceoff rules, which no one understands, these teams have adapted to remain two of the best in the country. When Michigan smoked Western 4-0 last year, the Wolverines dominated 41-17 in the faceoff circle. The next night at Lawson, when the Broncos handled Michigan 5-2, Western held a slight 29-28 advantage on the draw. Clashes between teams this good often come down to the margins. Who can win extra possessions? Which team owns the half wall? Which team can carry the puck into the zone?
Expect a clash of titans tonight, with the winner being crowned the true No. 1 team in the country.
Game info
- When: Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Yost Ice Arena; Ann Arbor, MI
- How to watch: BIG+
- How to listen: Varsity Podcast Network