Media Roundup: Pair of Ties with NMU

16 inches of snow in Madison means you get a lot more blogging out of me. Media roundup today, a unique perspective on the Michigan/Miami series tomorrow or Friday, along with 10 Things if I have time and can dig up enough interesting stuff that isn't mentioned in the preview.

Here's what the media had to say in the aftermath of Michigan's disappointing weekend on and off the ice:

The Michigan Side:
Official game stories and highlights from Friday and Saturday. You definitely can't accuse Chad Kolarik of sugar-coating his thoughts. This was the first time in the history of the program that Michigan has tied three games in a row. You know what wasn't helpful? Our top line going 8 for 30 on faceoffs Saturday night. It's a lot harder to do what they do when they don't have the puck.

From the Ann Arbor News:
Friday's and Saturday's game stories. Red was much happier about the effort Saturday, but it's hard to be thrilled about the outcome of the weekend.

The distractions of Quick's dismissal and the Miami series could've contributed to the outcomes. Red can't apparently comment on why Quick was kicked off the team beyond that it was bad, but let's face it, even if he could say, he wouldn't. I'd be shocked if it doesn't end up leaking at some point.

From the, "Ya think?" file: U-M needs to play much better against Miami

An article about the guy who really has an opportunity here, Tristin Llewellyn. He agrees with me that his weekend against MSU was his best so far. He mentioned earlier in the season that he's been taking skating lessons, and I could be crazy, but I swear they're paying off. I couldn't see last weekend's games, but he looked like he was skating better against MSU. I'm curious to see him this weekend, but I have confidence that he's going to do just fine. The problem would come in if someone else gets hurt, sick, or, well, kicked off the team.

From The Michigan Daily:
Liveblogs of Friday and Saturday night if you care to relive either of the games. Yup, there were a lot of penalties. The sense that I get is that a few of them were even deserved! Wildcat Matt Siddall not only had to be restrained from jumping on to the ice to go after Tim Miller, he got a rare five-minute major for head-butting. Somewhere Sean Avery is nodding his head in approval. By the way, how is it that head-butting doesn't carry an automatic game misconduct with it?

An article about the impact of Quick's dismissal on the team. It's always the quiet ones. Red indicated that he'd go with 5 D if he had to, but that there'd be issues if two defensemen were missing from the lineup. This article also includes a "That probably wasn't necessary" comment about Eric Elmblad, but our coach speaks his mind. BTW, I just realized that I've spelled his name without the first "L" pretty much every time I've typed it, including in his preview. Sorry bout that Eric. That was a lazy mistake.

Red doesn't think we respected NMU as much as they probably deserved.

The team as a whole probably took too many penalties, but the freshmen got a little chat about it.

The Michigan of the first 24 games is going to have to show up if they're to beat Miami. Nate also reads between the lines a little bit on the Kevin Quick situation.

As Falcons30 pointed out, indications are that Quick has joined the Des Moines Buccaneers. We'll probably have to wait until Saturday to find out for sure though. He's not listed on the team website as of yet.

The NMU Side:
Michigan apparently gets "all the calls and favoritism" in the CCHA. See why I was compelled to create a database and write an enormous piece debunking this myth? Perhaps getting outshot 44-24 has something to do with the whopping 8-6 discrepancy in power plays? You're lucky Pio retired....

I guess like fan, like head coach. Those two points were big for NMU in their search for home ice in the first round.