Can Michigan's top power play, freshman goalie, and Hobey Baker finalist conquer Bentley? Bold predictions forecast dominance.
Three Bold Predictions as No. 1 Michigan Faces Bentley Tomorrow Evening
The road to the Frozen Four begins in Albany tomorrow as the University of Michigan, the tournament’s overall No. 1 seed, prepares to defend its resume against a surging Bentley University squad. While the history books favor the Wolverines—who boast a perfect 3-0 historical record against the Falcons—this is the first time these two programs will meet with a season on the line.
Michigan (29-7-1) enters the regional coming off a dominant Big Ten Championship victory, while Bentley (23-11-5) arrives as the back-to-back Atlantic Hockey champions. On paper, it is a clash of the nation's most lethal offense against a top-ten scoring defense. Here are three bold predictions for the Friday night showdown.
1. The Nation’s Best Power Play Will Strike Three Times
Michigan currently operates the most efficient power play in college hockey, converting at a staggering 31.1% clip. While Bentley’s penalty kill is respectable (ranked 14th nationally at 83.2%), they haven't faced a unit with the sheer NHL-caliber vision of T.J. Hughes and Michael Hage.
Expect the Wolverines to bait the Falcons into early over-aggression. With Hughes coming off a "Most Outstanding Player" performance in the Big Ten Tournament, Michigan won’t just score on the man advantage—they will dismantle Bentley’s defensive structure. Look for Michigan to net at least three power-play goals, effectively neutralizing Bentley’s physical defensive game plan.
2. Jack Ivankovic Will Post a 30-Save Shutout
While much of the talk centers on Michigan’s 4.57 goals-per-game average, freshman netminder Jack Ivankovic has been a quiet wall in the postseason. Owning a .926 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA through three playoff games, Ivankovic is playing with veteran composure.
Bentley’s offense, led by Jake Black, is efficient but lacks the high-volume shooting typically required to rattle a goalie of Ivankovic’s caliber. As Bentley pushes late in the second period to bridge the gap, the prediction here is that Ivankovic will turn away every shot he faces, securing a shutout to cement his status as the tournament's breakout goaltender.
3. T.J. Hughes Will Record a Four-Point Performance
The Hobey Baker finalist is currently playing at a different speed than the rest of the country. With 53 points on the season and a red-hot postseason start (six points in three games), Hughes is the engine of the Wolverine offense.
Bentley’s Lukas Swedin is a formidable goaltender with a 2.02 GAA, but the sheer variety of Michigan’s attack—featuring Hage’s nation-leading 38 assists—will leave Hughes with too much space in the high slot. Expect Hughes to factor into four of Michigan’s goals (two goals, two assists), single-handedly outscoring the Falcons and punching Michigan’s ticket to the regional final.
The puck drops at 5:30 p.m. at MVP Arena and broadcasted on ESPNU. If these predictions hold, the Wolverines will not only tie Minnesota for the most NCAA tournament appearances but will do so with a statement win that puts the rest of the bracket on notice.
Earlier this week I predicted that the score would be 5-1 in favor of Michigan, but I am retracting that and saying Ivankovic will pitch the shutout. The Wolverines are playing their best hockey, so it wont be much of a surprise if the Wolverines can get it done.