Penn State hockey stuns top-ranked Spartans on the road

The story has largely been the same for Penn State hockey each weekend of the season’s closing stretch. A hot Nittany Lions (17-11-4, 8-10-4 Big Ten) squad facing off against a higher-ranked opponent with postseason aspirations on the line.

The circumstances won’t get much tougher than this past weekend when the Blue and White traveled to the No.1-ranked Michigan State Spartans. Penn State could not get swept, something the Spartans (22-6-4, 13-5-4) had done in nine of the 15 series this season. Conversely, Penn State hockey had only ever defeated a top-ranked foe twice, both instances occurring in 2022. That is, until the Nittany Lions came away with a massive win in East Lansing on Friday and Saturday. 

Nittany Lions secure tie, down Spartans in shootout thriller

With most of the play in its own zone, Penn State capitalized on one of its rare breakout opportunities to kick off the scoring on Friday night. Keaton Peters set up Dane Dowiak on a partial breakaway, who sent the puck past the high blocker of Spartan net-minder Trey Augustine to give Penn State a surprising 1-0 lead nearly midway through the opening period.

That would be only one of six shots that Penn State hockey had in the period, with the Spartans having 12. While it wasn’t their best start, the Nittany Lions went to the locker room with a lead thanks to Dowiak and another strong period by goaltender Arsenii Sergeev. 

Penn State played much better in the middle frame, aided by three consecutive Michigan State penalties. Multiple great chances were all turned aside by Augustine, a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award for the nation’s best goaltender. 

After killing off the multiple penalties, Michigan State used the momentum to tie the game at one, as a loose puck got by a sprawling Sergeev. 

As the ice started to tilt yet towards the Spartans, it seemed like the Nittany Lions would be lucky to get to the intermission tied. 

But it was the opportunistic Lions who struck again. In the final minute of the period, Reese Laubach sniped a perfectly placed wrister into the top corner over Augustine’s shoulder. Just as it was 20 minutes before, it was Penn State taking a surprising lead into the break. 

The Nittany Lions dodged several bullets with a couple of Michigan State power plays to start the third period. However, just after the last penalty kill expired, a long wrister from the point fooled Sergeev to tie up the game at two. 

The goalie duel continued for the remainder of the third, with both net-minders turning away a few high-danger chances. 

Heart-stopping is the only apt word to describe the five-minute 3-on-3 overtime. Both teams traded multiple chances that seemed all but sure to end the game. But as was the story of the net, the stars in goal both found ways to keep everything out. 

With the scoreless overtime officially ending the game in a tie, the Nittany Lions only saw a slight boost in their PairWise ranking, a critical component for the NCAA Tournament. However, a shootout helped decide who got an extra point in the Big Ten stands, which Penn State earned after Dylan Lugris and Reese Laubach both scored while Sergeev turned away all but one of the Spartans’ attempts. The extra point is critical for the Nittany Lions as they chase down Michigan for the final home-ice spot in the first round of the conference tournament. 

Penn State hockey earns historic win on the road

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

While the tie didn’t hurt, Penn State needed more of a boost with time running out on the season. The Nittany Lions needed to down the Spartans in game two, something Michigan State hadn’t allowed all season. 

But the searing-hot Nittany Lions were ready to lay history to rest again, just as they have many times during this stretch run.

Understanding the urgency of the moment, Penn State responded right away. Less than a minute into the contest, Matt DiMarsico set up Charlie Cerrato on a breakaway, going through the five-hole on his backhand to beat Augustine and give the Nittany Lions the lead. Just 41 seconds later, JJ Wiebusch intercepted a Michigan State pass and one-timed it home.

Suddenly, Penn State hockey held a two-goal lead against the No.1 team in the country on its home ice. But with 58 minutes to go, there was still much hockey to play. Michigan State started to come alive, but Penn State held its multi-goal advantage into the first intermission. 

Penn State added to its dream start with an Aiden Fink power-play goal less than two minutes into the second period. The goal marked Fink’s 23rd tally of the year, tying the single-season program. It also moved him back into a tie atop the nation’s scoring leaderboard with 45. 

Midway into the third, things started to turn. Penn State had a 5-on-3 man advantage, a prime opportunity to put the game on ice with a dagger. Instead, Michigan State scored a shorthanded goal, giving the Spartans new life.

Rallied by the goal, Michigan State controlled the shots in the period, outshooting Penn State 19-5. But net-minder Arsenii Sergeev saved the game for the Nittany Lions. Putting on a masterpiece in the crease over the second half of the year, Sergeev continues to steal games for his squad and keep the program’s postseason hopes afloat.

A defensive breakdown allowed a Michigan State goal, but with only ten seconds remaining, it was too little, too late for Sparty. Penn State hockey hung on for its third win ever versus a No. 1 team, taking five out of six possible points in the Big Ten standings on the weekend.

Lions close out the regular season with another do-or-die matchup

Once dead in the water, Penn State hockey is now a coin flip away from making the NCAA Tournament field. Now, the Nittany Lions’ focus shifts back to Pegula Ice Arena for the regular-season finale against Minnesota.

Currently No. 3 in the PairWise, a strong outing against the Gophers would be massive for the Nittany Lions. One point behind Michigan in the conference standings, Penn State can ill afford to get swept. However, a sweep of Minnesota could help avoid the need for a run in the conference tournament. 

Puck drop is slated for 8:30 p.m. on Friday and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both games will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.