After a week off, the Michigan men’s ice hockey team returned for a road series against Penn State. The Wolverines were able to continue their positive momentum with an offensive barrage over two games, earning a pivotal series sweep.
Here’s a rundown of all the action from State College.
It was Penn State that got off to a fast start in Friday night’s game. The Nittany Lions got an early power play thanks to a Josh Eernisse boarding penalty and scored about a minute into the game to go up 1-0. Michigan wasn’t deterred, however, after going in an early hole. The Wolverines responded with four unanswered goals in the first period to take a 4-1 lead into the locker room.
Penn State chipped away with another power play goal halfway through the second period to make it a 4-2 game. Michigan and Garrett Schifsky responded with a power play goal of their own to push the score to 5-2. Penn State put up another goal shortly before the end of the period and entered the third within striking distance.
At the start of the third, Penn State’s comeback was in full effect, as Reese Laubach found the back of the net less than a minute into the period. Matt DiMarsico scored his second goal of the game just a few minutes later. All of a sudden, the game was tied at 5-5. Late in the game though, Michigan’s Michael Hage played the hero, and scored a wrap-around goal to give Michigan a 6-5 lead, which would be the final score of the game.
On Saturday night, it was Penn State getting off to a fast start once again. Dane Dowiak scored twice within the first 65 seconds of the game, while Reese Laubach added a power play goal halfway through the first period to get an early 3-0 lead. Michigan wouldn’t go quietly, though, as William Whitelaw, Jacob Truscott, and Evan Werner all scored before the period’s end. Penn State added another as well, entering the break with a 4-3 lead.
The second period was where Michigan gained control. Tyler Duke and T.J. Hughes scored back-to-back goals to put Michigan up 5-4. Penn State’s J.J. Wiebusch countered to tie the game at 5-5. Michigan’s Philippe Lapointe found the back of the net in the closing minutes of the second to make sure Michigan went into intermission up 6-5.
From then on, it was all Wolverines. T.J. Hughes scored three more goals in the third period, two of which were on the power play, giving him a total of four on the night. Michael Hage took advantage of another Penn State penalty with a power play goal of his own. Penn State’s Aiden Fink had a power play goal as well, but it wouldn’t be enough, as Michigan won comfortably by a 10-6 final score.
With the victories this weekend, Michigan has now won six games in a row and stands at 9-2-1 on the season and 4-0-0 in Big Ten play. Michigan will return to action this weekend for a home-and-home series against Western Michigan, with Game 1 in Kalamazoo on Friday and Game 2 at Yost on Saturday.
