Taking a look at Michigan's Special Team's systems

This was written in June of 2023 based on the 2022-23 season about the University of Michigan Wolverines' systems as a part of a Big Ten Hockey Systems guide that was written by Dylan Loucks. 

Although the data and analysis were written based on last year and not this season, Michigan still uses most of these today. Just with different players than before.

Let's take a look.

PP1: 1-3-1 left flank

PP1 BO: Double drop

PK in-zone: 2-2

PK FC: 1-1-2 to 2-2 swing

First, we look at the University of Michigan’s power play and then we will look at the penalty kill. Starting with the power-play the Wolverines run a variety of plays, we will touch on a couple. They mainly run a 1-3-1 left flank power play. The photo below is a collection of the Wolverine’s 40 power-play goals and who got them.

Only 12 of their 40 power-play goals were scored outside the home-plate area which is one of the highest in the Big Ten. Really you could say seven of their 40 were scored outside the homeplate area with about five of the previous 12 stated being very close to being in the homeplate area. One thing that sticks out is how they try to suck the defenders away from the net in Michigan’s 1-3-1 power play formation. When setting up in a 1-3-1 the Wolverines move the puck and draw defenders away from the net. Then MICH will feed Luke Hughes (#43) at the point or Adam Fantilli (#19) on the flank and let perimeter shots go. With the defenders still up a bit, Dylan Duke (#25) directs shots or picks up rebounds. Gavin Brindley (#4) and Rutger McGroarty (#2) will also cycle below the hashmarks to pounce on loose pucks or redirect shots. The x-factor in this is T.J. Hughes (#13). Hughes will rotate with Mackie Samoskevich (#11) from the center of the ice to the left flank. This will open passing lanes and multiple options. Samoskevich can cut to the slot/middle of the circles and rip a shot or find T.J. Hughes who will drop to the goalline to the left of the goalie. See example below.

Above is an example of how Michigan set up in a game against Western Michigan where they scored five power-play goals in a 6-5 win. The puck carrier in this example is Samoskevich (01) Luke Hughes is 03, Fantilli is 02, Duke is 04, and TJ Hughes is 05. Most of the time Samoskevich would cut towards D2 and make him make a move first. When presented, Samoskevich would feed 03 or fire a shot. But in this example, Samoskevich still skates towards D2 but instead of D2 approaching Samoskevich he stays put and allows 01 skate to the faceoff dot.

While all this is happening, TJ Hughes (05) drops down on the goal line and opens up for a pass. 01 passes it to 05, this draws D4 and D1 to 05 and 04 and Hughes (05) turns around and passes it to Fantilli (02) who was left all alone to sneak in a score on what was a wide open net with zero defenders in front of him.

Conclusion - Michigan mainly runs a 1-3-1 left flank power play but the personal changes and varies from power play to power play (sometimes Fantilli switches with Samoskevich).

How to defend - Stay put in front and don’t suck away from the net. If so, stay connected to a Michigan sweater. In the photo above, D2 should be between D1 and D4 and on the hash mark covering the shot if 02 takes it. If the puck goes to the point D1 can meet him.

The Wolverines lost Luke Hughes, Fantilli, and Samoskevich from their power play but will likely run the same system. The top unit would probably be Duke, TJ Hughes, McGroaty, Frank Nazar, and Seamus Casey. I would expect to see Jackson Hallum and Gavin Brindley also on PP1. 

The photo above is the season's totals for PPG and shot assists. The shot assists are shots assisted that lead to goals rather than all power play shots.

Michigan’s breakout is usually a double drop which looks like a 2-1-2 formation when attacking the offensive zone. When healthy, Luke Hughes is the middle guy who attempts to skate it to the red line before dropping it off behind him to either Samoskevich or Fantilli. Duke and TJ Hughes anchor down the left and right side of the blue line and enter when Samoskevich/Fantilli does.

Also, note that Luke Hughes sometimes doesn't drop the puck off and skates it into the zone himself. Either way, they are still usually set up as a double-drop breakout. 

PK in-zone: 2-2

PK FC: 1-1-2 to 2-2 swing

During the 2022-23 season, Michigan scored 40 power-play goals. They also allowed 40 power-play goals. 

Michigan had a very aggressive penalty kill during the 2022-23 season which makes sense when you had speedsters like Fantilli, Hallum, and Brindley. Nolan Moyle also got a lot of PK time. 

In the defensive zone, they run a 2-2 which is what the Boston Bruins of the NHL have made popular. F1 and F2 pressure high pucks to prevent the powerplay from getting set while the D’s watch and take away passing plays on the goal line. The reason for this PK is to pressure the opposition hard which forces turnovers and doesn't allow the opposition to set up. This also chews time off the clock and prevents high-danger looks with all the meaningless passes the power play will make.

The PK forecheck is a 1-1-2 to 2-2 swing. F1 pressures the puck carrier while they are breaking out and forces them away from the center of the ice before retreating to the red line. F2 then comes around the other way to force a turnover or backpedal into a 2-2 neutral zone. F1 attacking the puck carrier works well when the power play breaks out with a double drop or a single drop. 

A reason the swing play works is because having two attackers, within distance from each other, pressuring the puck carrier it forces them quickly to make a play and doesn’t allow for the power play breakout to come into the zone quickly. It does burn you if your defensemen don’t stay between the two face-off dots in the neutral zone. 

Once again this was written last season but applies for this season as well.