UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Although No. 11 Penn State's series against Michigan State featured two very different outcomes this weekend, it was the Nittany Lions' back line that helped them get a big 4-2 in-conference win in the series opener Friday night.
Despite dropping game two of the series by a score of 6-4, the Blue and White, known for their potent offensive attack, played one of their best and most complete defensive games of the season Friday.
It was the team's penalty kill during a critical third period power play by the Spartans that helped lead Penn State to victory. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, Michigan State then scored two unanswered goals to cut Penn State's cushion to 3-2.
With the Spartans having seemingly regained all of the momentum while going on the power play down just one goal, Penn State needed a defensive stand badly – and that's exactly what it got.
"It didn't feel really deflating on the bench, there wasn't panic by any means," head coach Guy Gadowsky said about the Spartans late push and ensuing power play that would've tied the game. "I just felt like the guys sort of knew we could do better. I liked the third, I liked a lot of aspects of the third."
On the day Penn State held its opponent to 1-for-5 on the power play, much due to the good play of junior goaltender Peyton Jones in net. Jones made 25 saves, some of which with a great degree of difficulty, including a 13 save third period that sealed the victory.
"I thought it was really good," Michigan State head coach Danton Cole said of the play of Peyton Jones. "In real time he made some good saves."
"I thought he came back really focused (in the third period). I think he wanted one of those (Michigan State) goals back," Gadowsky added. "I did like his response. Obviously, you're going to need excellent goaltending this time of year and I think we got that tonight."
The Nittany Lions' two goals allowed was tied for the team's second best single game mark among Big Ten games so far this season.
"It was a tough hockey game. Penn State is a good team, they play fast," Cole added.
As for the other end of the ice, Penn State was paced offensively this weekend by junior forward Brandon Biro. Coming off being featured as the number one play on Sportcenter's Top 10 plays, Biro registered a total of four assists vs Michigan State, including two in each game.
The Alberta native now is tied with sophomore forward Alex Limoges for the team lead in assists with 19 on the year, a mark that also puts him tied for second on the Big Ten assists list as well.
Moving forward, Penn State will continue its Big Ten schedule as it hosts the No. 4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes next weekend at Pegula Ice Arena.
