RECAP: Penn State hockey splits road series at No. 11 Michigan State

Penn State hockey, coming off a weekend with two ties against a mediocre Notre Dame team, was looking to right the ship. The Nittany Lions’ early seasons struggles have been well documented, losing to two schools that are perennial bottom dwellers. Undefeated on the road this season, Penn State traveled to East Lansing with a chance to pick up quality wins against No. 11 Michigan State. The Nittany Lions were able to pick up one game against the Spartans, but ultimately split the series.

Late game dramatics allow Penn State hockey to steal game one

First Period

The first period started as you would have hoped for a team hoping to spring an upset on the road. The Nittany Lions were even able to draw a penalty in the first few minutes. But things quickly went downhill from there. During the Penn State powerplay, a Michigan State player was able to blow past the Nittany Lions defense and fire a wrister on goal. Sophomore goaltender Noah Grannon, getting another start, had no shot to stop this one and the Spartans took a 1-0 lead on the shorthanded goal. 

The rest of the period was pretty evenly matched, with a couple of chances both ways. Penn State hockey went into the locker with an advantage in shots 13-7, even if it trailed where it counted.

Second Period

The second period also started well for the Nittany Lions, drawing an early penalty. They weren’t able to score on the man advantage, but it served to shift momentum a bit to the Lions’ corner. That was until an untimely mistake cost Penn State. Grannon came out to play a puck behind his own net, turned it over, which led to an easy empty net chance for the Spartans. It was shooting practice and a 2-0 Michigan State lead. 

Just a few minutes later, another mistake would seemingly do the Lions in. A bad turnover in the defensive zone left a Michigan State forward alone in the crease. He showed some nice moves and beat Grannon to extend the lead to 3-0. All of the sudden the Nittany Lions were facing their largest deficit of the season. 

If Penn State hockey had any hope of a comeback, it would need to get at least one back before the horn sounded to end the second period. And that is exactly what happened in the last few minutes of the period. Senior forward Tyler Paquette, back from injury, ripped a slapshot that the Spartan goalie didn’t even see for his first goal of the year. 

Penn State hockey went back to the locker down by two, but with the momentum in its corner.

Third Period

The Nittany Lions, aka the Cardiac Cats, have made quite a habit of coming back in games this season. If they were to pull this one off, it would be by far their most impressive yet, on the road against a ranked opponent. 

Penn State hockey was able to strike relatively early in the period. Senior defender Jimmy Dowd Jr. fired a wrister from the point that was deflected by senior forward Xander Lamppa and into the net to cut the deficit to one, his third of the year.

After that Penn State was able to put its foot on the gas and sustain time in the offensive zone. With time winding down, the Lions found the equalizer. The freshman line, which has made its name known this year, struck at the best time. Matt DiMarsico collected a pass from Reese Laubauch in front of the net and fired it home to tie the game up. It was DiMarsico’s third goal of the season. 

For the third time in the last three games, the Nittany Lions were heading to overtime. 

Overtime and Shootout

The overtime was very back and forth, which is to be expected with all the open ice available three-on-three. Both goalies made very strong saves, and yet again this one would head to a shootout. That means, nationally, this counts as a tie. This is the Nittany Lions third tie of the season, all three coming in conference play. 

But nevertheless, the teams competed in a shootout for an extra point in the Big Ten standings. Penn State hockey was 1-1 in shootouts this year, both coming last weekend against Notre Dame.

The first two shooters for both sides were denied. Michigan State, shooting first, scored on its third attempt. That meant Xander Lamppa needed to score to keep the game alive. He did just that, using the same exact move he used against the win shootout against the Irish last Sunday. 

Noah Grannon made a save on the fourth attempt for the Spartans. That meant junior forward Ryan Kirwan could win it with a goal. With his wrister that went five-hole, he completed the comeback for the Nittany Lions and earned the extra point.

Nittany Lions can’t repeat late game heroics in game two

First Period

Saturday couldn’t have started much worse for the Nittany Lions. Just 30 seconds into the contest, a Michigan State forward fired a top-corner snipe that senior goaltender Liam Souliere had no shot at stopping.

The Nittany Lions, after a stunning display of resiliency on Friday, got right back at it. They drew a penalty and dominated the two minute man advantage, with some great saves from the Spartan goaltender. Even though they didn’t score, they entirely shifted momentum. It paid off right away. Freshman forward Aiden Fink got in on a partial breakaway and made no mistake tying the game at one with his third goal of the year, displaying his wicked wrister in the process. 

Penn State hockey got right back in the zone and added another goal just 19 seconds later on a senior forward Chase McLane tip-in, also his third of the year. 

Momentum was all on the Nittany Lions’ side, and they dominated the remainder of the period. They even killed a 5-minute major against Jimmy Dowd Jr. for hitting from behind. He was ejected from the game for the foul. Penn State did not score again in the period, but took a 2-1 lead to the locker room with a 17-7 shot advantage. 

Second Period

Michigan State was not going to go away quietly. The Spartans started to tilt the ice, and halfway through the period they broke through and found the net. The goal was challenged by Penn State for goaltender interference, but none was found and the goal stood. 

Late in the period, Michigan State scored again to take its first lead of the night. Penn State’s resiliency would be on full display again. Less than a minute after the Spartans took the lead, Penn State answered. Junior forward Dylan Lugris found himself alone in front of the net after settling a pass from Ryan Kirwarn. He scored to tie the game. 

Penn State headed to the locker room tied at three, but much of the period was controlled by the Spartans who won the shots battle 11-6.

Third Period

Early in the third, Penn State established themselves in the offensive zone. However, the Nittany Lions took an ill-advised tripping penalty. Michigan State was able to capitalize on the power play to take back a one-goal lead. 

Penn State would get a power play of its own midway through the period, but couldn’t get set up. The Nittany Lions found themselves in a familiar situation. Down a goal in the second half of the third period, needed one to equalize. The past few games, Penn State was able to find that goal. Saturday, the Nittany Lions did not have another miracle in them. The Spartans would add an empty netter late for a final score of 5-3. This is the Nittany Lions’ first regulation loss of the Big Ten season. Penn State hockey now sits with a record of 5-3-3.

Penn State stays in Michigan

Penn State hockey stays in the state of Michigan to take on the Wolverines in Ann Arbor next week. Yost Ice Arena, home of the Wolverines, has been a house of horrors for all of Penn State’s existence. The Nittany Lions have won there just three times, and only once since 2015. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. 

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