The No. 11 Michigan Wolverines (3-2-1) top the weekend slate of college hockey games with a traffic collision against the No. 5 Boston University Terriers (4-1). Michigan is coming off a 4-3 (OT) exhibition win over the USNTDP and BU is back home after a series split at North Dakota. With massive Pairwise implications at stake, neither team can afford less than three points this weekend.

Despite Boston replacing Hobey Baker Award winners Macklin Celibrini and Lane Hutson, the Terriers don’t bounce back. Despite the loss of these two top scorers, BU remains one of the top ten scorers in the country, averaging 3.80 goals per game.

Led by stocky 6-foot-2 forward Shane Lachance, the sophomore has thrived with six points in the first five games. Complementing Lachane is highly touted freshman Cole Eiserman, who has adapted seamlessly to the college game with four goals and five total points early in his career.

Defensively, BU took a step back. Last year, the Terriers ranked in the top six in scoring defense, while Boston has fallen to 36th this season. A duo of talented scorers look to help outscore their opponents rather than slow them down – sophomore Tom Willander leads all BU blue-liners with five points, and freshman standout Cole Hutson (yes, Lane’s younger brother ) contributed four points.

The combination of points at both levels has helped Boston post an impressive 30.4 percent power play mark and rank in the top five nationally. The battle between this unit and Michigan’s Big Ten penalty kill leader (.833) will be the strength-versus-strength duel to watch all weekend.

In the Terriers’ net, senior Mathieu Caron did what he could behind a declining defense. Caron has a .909 save percentage in every game so far this year. He and this struggling defense provide the Wolverines with a golden opportunity to get their offense going.

Amazingly, Michigan has shown strong defense to start the season but has lagged offensively. Despite the stuttering team performance, some players still shone individually. Freshman sensation Michael Hage leads the Wolverines with seven points (4G, 3A), and sophomore Garrett Schifsky leads the team with five goals, including three shorthanders.

Although Arizona State transfer Tim Lovell (2A) has struggled to get his offensive game going on the blue line, he has helped strengthen a unit that has needed a defensive boost for three years. Perhaps no one has benefited from this defensive improvement as much as the goalkeepers.

Michigan’s goaltending battle continues, with both graduate transfer Logan Stein (.925 save percentage) and freshman Cameron Korpi (.915 save percentage) showing top performances in six games. Korpi appeared to have the lead early on after a strong performance against Minnesota State, but after overcoming some season-opening concerns, Stein has been dominant and is on pace to become the first two-game starter in a single series this year be.

Key to the game

Puck possession. Last season, Michigan won 52.8 percent of faceoffs, a nine-year program high and easily the best of the Brandon Naurato era. Building on that momentum, the Wolverines have improved even further this season, posting a faceoff win rate of 53.1 percent in six games.

If Michigan can continue to dominate in the circle, it can control puck possession and create more scoring opportunities for its struggling offense. Additionally, puck possession increases the likelihood of drawing a penalty and allows the Wolverines to gain invaluable power play reps to finally bring this aspect of their special teams to the level fans have become accustomed to under Naurato.

Game 1

When: Friday, November 1st, 7pm ET

Where: Agganis Arena, Boston, MA

How to watch: ESPN+

How to listen: Varsity Podcast Network

Game 2

When: Saturday, November 2nd, 7pm ET

Where: Agganis Arena, Boston, MA

How to watch: ESPN+

How to listen: Varsity Podcast Network