Jan. 20, 2018
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A valiant effort by the 12th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions came up a bit short as No. 20 Michigan held on for a 3-2 victory in Big Ten Conference action this evening to close out the season series from Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
The Nittany Lions fall to 13-10-3 on the year and 6-7-3-2 in the Big Ten and relinquish second place to Michigan who moves a point ahead of Penn State with 24 points after improving to 12-10-2 overall and 7-7-2-1 in the conference.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Michigan wasted little time opening the scoring as Josh Norris was able to finish off a pass from Brendan Warren just 26 seconds into the first period for the 1-0 lead.
- The Wolverines extended their lead on the power-play midway through the first period as Dexter Dancs finished off a feed from Joe Cecconi out front of the crease for the 2-0 lead at 9:47.
- Midway through the second period, Penn State had its best chance as just after a power-play expired sophomore Brandon Biro (Sherwood, Park, Alb.) dangled through the slot and found classmate Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.), but the sophomore's shot clanked the near post and stayed out keeping the lead 2-0 in favor of the hosts. From there Wolverine goaltender Hayden Lavigne stood on his head stopping multiple scoring chances from in close by the Lions during the second period.
- Dakota Raabe made the score 3-0 Michigan as he found himself behind the defense off a great stretch pass from Luke Martin and he finished past the right pad of PSU sophomore net-minder Peyton Jones (Langhorne, Pa.) at 14:23 of the third period.
- Penn State opted for the empty net early with just over four minutes remaining and it resulted in a pair of extra attacker goals for the Nittany Lions with under two minutes to play.
- Sophomore Liam Folkes (Scarborough, Ont.) ripped home a rebound off classmate Kris Myllari's (Kanata, Ont.) initial bid at 18:03 before Myllari himself fired home a wrister from the right circle at 19:06 for the 3-2 final score. Sucese and Biro assisted on Myllari's goal.
GOALTENDING
Jones falls to 12-8-2 after stopping 22 shots in the setback while Lavigne continues his hot play aginst the Nittany Lions as he moves to 8-6-2 on the year after collecting 43 saves and 4-0-0 against Penn State.
NOTES
- Penn State held the 45-25 shot advantage, but were unable to capitalize on the power-play going 0-for-3 with the man-advantage while Michigan went 1-for-2 on the man-advantage.
- Folkes' goal snapped a 165:10 scoring drought this season and a 182:54 scoreless streak at Yost Ice Arena.
- Myllari finished the game with a goal and an assist for his fourth career multi-point effort and his second this season. With his two points, Myllari now ties Nate Jensen for seventh on the Penn State all-time points list for defensemen with 29.
- Penn State is now just 2-8-0 all-time at Yost Ice Arena and 0-7-0 in its last seven games in Ann Arbor.
NEXT UP
Penn State continues this recent road swing as they travel to Wisconsin for a two game series against the 18th-ranked Badgers on Friday and Saturday evening.
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| Final | ||||
| #12 Penn State | 14 | 17 | 14 | 45 | |
| #20 Michigan | 10 | 8 | 7 | 25 |
| Final | ||||
| #12 Penn State | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-3 | |
| #20 Michigan | 1-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-2 |
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