Michigan HockeyCast 8.15: What About The First Two Periods?

1 Hour and 31 Minutes

With David Nasternak and Alex Drain

This Podcast Has a Sponsor: Michigan Law Grad Jonathan Paul is the guy with the C you want skating next to the ref and pleading your case. He's also a good guy to sit next to at the hockey games.

Segment 1

Curling mixed doubles on the quad box, biathlon, and why speed skating is faster than it looks. Downhill skiing is insane. The Friday night 4-3 OT game was insane. The game was even early, tilted towards the Spartans late in the second. Michigan came out with their backs against the wall and their hair on fire in the third. Refs swallowed their whistles and missed some egregious calls. Barnett's goal sent Yost back to the Old Yost days. Frustration about roster decisions and puck management but Moldenhauer and Perron have become consistent scorers. This game was what the rivalry is all about. 
 

Segment 2

Well, let's talk about the second game. The press box at Little Caesars Arena causes vertigo and lower box hockey tickets are a scam. Michigan came out flat, sloppy, and chasing the game almost immediately. Dave spotted Ivankovic in the press box and then on the ice moments later... because it was the 4th string goalie who looks just like him. Michigan's top-end talent vanished as they gave up a 4-0 lead, the first goal was especially ugly. Perron and Moldenhauer gave some hope but a power play that couldn't enter the zone ended all hope. Michigan looks like the best team in the country on Fridays and deeply mortal on Saturdays. The Hage-Horkoff line goes quiet when Michigan needs them most. Too many statement weekends turn into split-series shrugs.

MUSIC

• NHL on ESPN Theme
• "The Kids Are Alright" -- Barns Courtney
• Ice Hockey (NES) theme