12A -The Michigan Daily - Thursday, March 4, 2004 Michigan's season hinges on series against archrival When Michigan and Michigan State square off; there's usu- shutout came against Michigan in East Lansing on Dec. 6. ally more than just state bragging rights on the line. The ArVATAG: i'H N STATE matchup often plays a big factor in determining CCHA supremacy, and this weekend's series is no different. With a single win, the CCHA regular season title will belong to the Wolverines. Michigan currently leads second- place Miami by just two points. The Spartans sit in third, two PROF. BRIAN SCHICK ON MICHIGAN'S DEFENSE VS. MICHIGAN points behind the RedHawks. STATE'S OFFENSE: With the series set to begin tomorrow, The Michigan When these two teams last met, the home-and-home Daily's hockey professors (a.k.a.. the hockey beat writers) are series was very low-scoring, and the here to break down the matchups. home team in each game won 2-0. Even PROF. MICHAEL NISSON ON MICHIGAN'S OFFENSE VS. MICHI- though they lost the game, the Michi- GAN STATE'S DEFENSE: gan defense held the Spartans to 17 On paper, this matchup between Michigan's shots in East Lansing - including offense and Michigan State's defense looks just four in the third period. Since very intriguing. Both units are ranked No. 1 then, Michigan's blueliners have steadi- in the CCHA. The Spartans allow 2.16 ly increased their plus/minus rating, and, goals per game, while the Wolverines over the conference year, Michigan has have averaged 3.71 each contest. So allowed just over two goals per game, something has to give. second best in the conference. Until last weekend, the Michigan Freshman Matt Hunwick leads all offense was sizzling. In the three games Michigan defenders at +15. prior to the Notre Dame series, the Michigan will need to shut Wolverines averaged a blistering 6.67 down the Spartans' top line of goals per game. And it wasn't a David Booth, Mike Lalonde single line doing all the work. and Jim Slater. The trio has Ten different players combined for 43 of scored goals in the Michigan State's three games. 119 total goals. The Spartans have DANNYMOLOSHOK/Daily Booth scored allowed two or fewer Freshman center TJ. Hensick the lone even- goals in 16 of their strength goal the 28 CCHA games this last time these teams met, but Michigan was able to shut season. Two of Michigan State's seven shutouts this season down Michigan State's other three lines. If Michigan came last weekend against Nebraska-Omaha. Another contains-the Spartans' top line, it should be in great shape to win. ADVANTAGE: MICHIGAN PROF. GENNARO FIUCE ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Looking over the entire season, Michigan has advantage when it's on the powerplay. The Wolverines lead the CCHA in extra-man percentage (.219). In their last three games, though, the Wolverines have struggled, scor- ing in just in 2 of 22 powerplays. During this drought Michigan has created plenty of quality chances, but hasn't been able to put the puck in the net. After a slow start to the season, the Michigan State penal- ty kill has really picked it up recently. In the last 10 games, the Spartans have given up just two goals in 43 opponent powerplays. When they've enjoyed a man- advantage, the Spartans have been fairly successful. But their powerplay opportunities have been limited - 46 less than Michigan's total. The penalty kill is the Wolverines' Achilles- heel. This special teams matchup comes down to how many times Michigan State. can get the extra attacker. ADVANTAGE: MICHIGAN the obvious PROF. SHARAD MATTU ON GOALTENDING: Al Montoya, who injured his hamstring during Friday's loss to Notre Dame, practiced yesterday for the first time this week and should be ready for Friday. And it's impor- tant that he's ready to go because the Spartans' Dominic Vicari has been tremendous all season long. The fresh- man's 1.87 goals against average, .933 save percentage and six shutouts lead the CCHA. And he wasn't even the starter at the beginning of the season. An interesting, unrelated side note is that Stan Matwi- jiw, Michigan's goaltending coach, was Vicari's per- sonal coach in high school before Vicari went to Michigan State. Though Montoya's statistics (2.31 GAA, .913 save pct. and five shutouts) don't quite match up with Vicari's, he is battle- tested. He dominated last year's CCHA Super Six and NCAA Regional, so the regular-season finale definitely won't faze him. ADVANTAGE: EVEN 4 WEEKEND PREDICTIONS: Friday at Michigan State's Munn Ice Arena: Michigan State 2, Michigan : Saturday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit: Michigan 3, Michigan State l Dave Weatherwax/The State News Freshman goaltender Mike Vicari HOOSIERS Continued from Page 8A said. "They didn't have to make a bas- ket. They made free throws (instead)." Amaker hasn't beaten Indiana in his five attempts as coach at Michigan, and last night may have been his best chance yet. Michigan had won three of its last four games heading into Bloomington, while Indiana had dropped seven of eight, including its last four straight at home. The Wolverines' next game will come on Saturday against Northwest- ern, and Michigan will look to improve its seeding for the Big Ten Tournament. ROSEN Continued from Page 8A Marshall Strickland bricked a run- ner with the shot clock winding down. It was a miss that should have allowed the Wolverines yet another chance to tie or take the lead late. But Michigan fumbled the rebound into the hands of Perry, and the Wolverines instead were forced to foul. "We've got to grab the ball," guard Daniel Horton said. "That's part of basketball." "It's hard to overcome those kinds of things in a tough ball- game, in a close ballgame on the road," said Michigan coach Tommy Amaker of the play. Indiana coach Davis said after his team's win last night, the Big Ten Tournament will be "wide open" come next weekend. If Michigan has any chance of grabbing the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament given to the Big Ten tourney champ - probably the only chance it has left to do any dancing - it's got to make plays in the final two minutes, and take advantage of its opportunities at the Big Ten Tournament. "We've just got to find ways to pull it out," Horton said. "We've got to make free throws, get crucial rebounds. It's something we just have to do." Daniel Rosen can be reached at danielsr@umich.edu YESTERDAY S GAME MICHIGAN (56) I Robinson Brown Sims Abram Horton Harris Hunter Petway Team Totals MIN 33 18 28 40 34 12 14 21 FG M-A 1-9 1-3 4-8 4-10 4-12 0-2 2-4 3-3 FT M-A 0-0 0-0 5-6 5-7 0-1 0-0 4-5 0-0 REB 0-T 0-3 0-4 5-7 2-7 0-0 0-0 2-3 1-4 0-1 A 1 0 0 4 4 0 0 1 F PTS 2 2 2 2 4 13 1 12 1 12 1 0 2 8 2 6 4 200 19-51141910298 19 58 FG%: .373. FT%: .737. 3-point FG: 4-11, .364, (Horton 4-7, Abram 0-1, Robinson 0- 3). Blocks: 6 (Brown 2, Sims 2, Horton, Robinson). Steals: 5 (Horton 2, Petway 2, Sims). Tumovers: 7 (Harris 2, Robinson 2, Brown, Petway, Team). Technical fouls: none. Indiana (61) A Ewing Jr. Leach Moye Wright, Strickland MIN 21 31 40 40 37 FG M-A 3-5 1-6 3-8 3-8 7-17 FT M-A 1-2 5-6 1-2 5-9 2-2 REB 0-T 3-4 2-7 5-15 1-7 0-0 A 0 0 3 1 4 F PTS 4 7 3 7 4 7 0 14 3 21 : , LEMy I i I