| 4 | 3 |
| Pegula Ice Arena | University Park, Pa. | 6,026 | |
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March 7, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Pegula Ice Arena was a palace of celebration on Saturday as the Nittany Lion men's hockey team honored its seven graduating seniors before completing its first sweep of first-place Michigan, 4-3, in front of 6,026 fans. Penn State's victory guaranteed its first winning season as a Division I program.
"This is something that we won't forget," head coach Guy Gadowsky said. "I mean, anytime that you're able to sweep Michigan is huge. It feels great. I think it is something to look back on down the road and gain a lot of confidence from this. The fact that it happened on senior night, and at a time that we're in the conversation, it becomes an important time for both teams. It feels really good. I feel really good about what the guys were able to accomplish in very meaningful games."
Just as they started during Friday's 6-4 win, the Nittany Lions (18-12-4, 10-7-1-0 Big Ten) scored the game's first goal as David Goodwin (Des Peres, Mo.) scored only 3:38 into action. Goodwin's talents would turn to the passing as he added three assists, tallying four points and having a hand in every Penn State goal.
The opening goal was set up by a Patrick Koudys (Smithville, Ontario) rocket from the point that was saved, hit the post and landed to Goodwin near the crease. Goodwin sent it home for the early 1-0 lead as linemate Casey Bailey (Anchorage, Alaska) picked up the first of his two assists sending the initial pass to Koudys.
Penn State's would relinquish the lead for the first time all weekend as Michigan (19-13-0, 11-7-0-0 Big Ten) evened the score on the first of JT Compher's three goals with 5:50 remaining. The even-strength goal was assisted by Travis Lynch and Nolan De Jong.
The Lions responded in kind with a tally 99 seconds later as Goodwin fed Conway from right to left for a 2-1 lead. Goodwin carried the puck into the neutral zone and slashed through the defense for his 17th assist of the year.
Compher again scored, this time a short-handed tally, as he put away an Andrew Copp 2-on-1 opportunity with 1:18 left as the two teams went into the locker room even.
The second period was evenly played, but Michigan posted a 12-8 advantage in shots. Nevertheless, Penn State would out-score the Wolverines, 2-0, on a strike by Erik Autio (Espoo, Finland) and Tommy Olczyk (Long Grove, Ill.) Autio fired from the high slot, while Olczyk put away a Bailey rebound. The two goals came with 6:41 and 2:39 left, respectively.
Michigan would make it interesting late in the third as Compher completed the hat trick with the extra attacker on the ice. A wild scramble late in the game saw PJ Musico (Orange, Calif.) sprawl for three heroic saves, eventually covering up before a Michigan player knocked him and the puck into the net with six seconds remaining. The referees blew the play dead and waved off any goal scoring opportunity.
Musico and Koudys were two of seven Nittany Lions honored beforehand. Peter Sweetland (Newtown, Pa.), Nate Jensen (Shorewood, Minn.), Max Gardiner (Deephaven, Minn.) skated in the game, while Jacob Friedman (West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Taylor Holstrom (Yorba Linda, Calif.) joined their teammates at center ice.
GAME NOTES
• Penn State improved to 13-2-3 at Pegula Ice Arena. The Nittany Lions were not swept this season and entered the weekend with the third-best home winning percentage. Penn State sold out Pegula Ice Arena for the 17th time this season.
• Penn State improved to 14-2-1 when leading after two periods.
• Bailey registered his 20th multi-point game. Bailey became the first Nittany Lion to reach the 40-point plateau.
• Goodwin matched his career high of four points, set Dec. 5, 2014 at Wisconsin (1g, 3a). Goodwin has a team-best plus-3 rating.
• Penn State went 3-1-0 against the Wolverines this season and hold a 6-3-0 all-time record.
• Olczyk tallied his second game-winner of the season.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State finishes its regular-season at Minnesota for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday. Both games are slated for 8 p.m. ET puck drops.