This may sound harsh, but there is no other way to say it.  This team sucks.  I brought up the topic a couple of months ago that this team didn't seem to be getting it done.  I think that was being kind.   I was at the Joe tonight and got to see the embarrassment up close.  And believe me when I say, I was not the only Michigan fan there tonight that thought this way.  There were plenty of Michigan and non-Michigan fans alike who were very surprised to see how this team played.   Lets cover the (high)lights:

– This team just lost to a middle of the road, mediocre ECAC squad who's best player was busy destroying Latvia up north.

– The starting goaltender gave up 3 goals on 5 shots, two of which were brutal (including the unforgivable third goal after your team fights to get back in the game).

–  The backup goalie gave up the winning goal on the first shot he faced after his team fought like hell to tie it up, then almost gave up another from the OPPOSITE RED LINE after misjudging how the puck was rolling. 

– This team didn't even show up until the middle of the second, making it four and a half periods of play without a goal. 

–  And did I mention this team lost to a FREAKING MEDIOCRE ECAC SQUAD!? WHOSE MASCOT IS A FREAKING SKATING PUCK!!!

I made it a point to really watch a couple of guys tonight.  One, it was refreshing to see Wohlberg come out and play a pretty strong game.   He was the one bright spot for me.  He seemed to be hustling, making plays and drawing penalties all night.  Plus he scored Michigan's first goal.  He started the game on the third line and played his way up to the second.  

 The second guy I watched was Louie, and I'm sorry, but he looks lost out there.  Case in point, there was a play in the first period where he was skating right down the middle of the RPI zone when Lynch tried to hit him with a pass.  Louie didn't have his stick on the ice and seemed generally surprised when the puck flew by him into the corner.  It was like he wasn't even looking for the pass…..in the offensive zone.  He was forced off the puck early and often, as well as being a little lazy exiting the zone causing a couple of offsides.   I'm not sure where his head is, but it's not out there on the ice. 

I may take a lot of heat on this site for this post, but it's time to put away the Maize and Blue glasses and see this for what it is.  This is a bad team that doesn't seem to be able to put a game together and has made Michigan irrelevent for the 2009 hockey season.   It's either the offense not scoring, or the defense not stepping up, or the goaltending that has a huge five, six, seven, eight, however many holes.   They fought back tonight, but there are no moral victories when you play for an elite program.   These guys should not settle for anything less than W's. 

The bad thing is that there doesn't seem to be alot of help on the horizon.  With Campbell's decision, it's left Michigan with having to find a flawed back up goalie at the last minute.  That means that next year, Hogan is probably it yet again.  The year after, we will either have a back up starting or a true freshman between the pipes.  Plus our best scoring recruit will probably be in the OHL.  It may be two or three more years before this program is back on the right track.