UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Nittany Lions return home to begin a six-game homestand with a Big Ten Conference series against the Michigan State Spartans on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. The Nittany Lions will play 12 of their next 14 games inside the friendly confines of Pegula Ice Arena.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Dates: Friday, January 15 | Saturday, January 16
Place: Pegula Ice Arena | University Park, Pa.
Time: FRI: 6 p.m. | SAT: 3 p.m.
TV: BTN+
Streaming Video: Friday | Saturday
Listen: Friday | Saturday
Live Statistics: Live Stats
Game Notes: Penn State | Michigan State
VIRTUAL TEDDY BEAR "TOSS" FOR THON
- While the 2020-21 continues to be a unique year for all of Nittany Nation and our men's hockey program, we can't let this year pass without continuing our traditional Teddy Bear Toss event!
- Since we can't cover the ice in Hockey Valley with thousands of teddy bears this season, we're asking you to participate and virtually "toss" your teddy bear with an equal donation to support THON. Our partnership with THON for this fantastic initiative has always been among our favorite moments together in Pegula Ice Arena, and our passion for supporting a great cause continues especially now for families and children in need.
- As always, thank you for your support and passion for Penn State Men's Hockey and our student-athletes. We Are! LINK TO DONATE!
PEGULA ICE ARENA FAN CUTOUTS
- The Penn State Hockey season is going to be like no other. It's not going to be the same without the strength of all our fans cheering from the stands. As we prepare for the 2020 season, Penn State fans still have the opportunity to make their mark in Pegula Ice Arena by purchasing a fan cutout!
- The cutouts are $45 and will be added to Pegula Ice Arena as purchased throughout the season. LINK TO BUY.
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
- This week marks 33rd and 34th meetings in the all-time series with Penn State holding the 16-12-4 edge including the commanding 8-3-3 record at Pegula Ice Arena.
- Following a four-year stretch where Penn State did not lose to the Spartans at home (6-0-2), the two teams have split the season series at Pegula over the past two seasons including a 2-0 shutout for Michigan State on November 8, 2019 just the third shutout ever of the Nittany Lions on home ice.
- Only six current Nittany Lions have goals against Michigan State in their careers with only three players having multiple career goals against the Spartans. Senior Sam Sternschein leads all current Nittany Lions with five goals, including the game-winner during a 1-0 shutout at Munn Ice Arena two weeks ago, and three assists for eight points in 13 games. Classmate Alex Limoges has added three goals and four assists for seven points in 14 career games against MSU.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
- The Spartans were inconsistent during Phase I of play beginning the year 2-0-1 then losing three-straight before closing the first half by taking four-of-six points at Notre Dame with a shootout loss and an overtime victory. MSU has split each of its first two series during Phase II of the schedule.
- Michigan State was blanked 9-0 by Michigan last Friday before coming-from-behind with two goals in the final 2:01 to beat the Wolverines 3-2 on Saturday night earning a series split last weekend.
- Michigan State lost four of its top six scorers from last season including leading scorer Patrick Khodorenko, however, they do return Mitchell Lewandowski who ranks second among active players in the Big Ten in career points (93) and goals (45) only behind Alex Limoges in both categories.
- The Spartans are led by Bemidji State graduate transfer Charlie Combs with a team high four goals while adding three assists for seven points. Sophomore Josh Nodler leads the team with eight points on seven assists and his first goal of the season proving to be the game-winner against the Wolverines last Saturday. Lewandowski has added three goals of his own and seven points.
- Drew DeRidder has been sensational in net for the Spartans so far this season following the graduation of John Lethemon. DeRidder ranks second in the Big Ten and ninth nationally with a .940 save percentage this season and is also second in the Big Ten and 15th in the nation with a 2.03 goals-against average.
- MSU ranks third in the Big Ten and 20th nationally allowing just 2.58 goals per game but the Spartans have struggled to find the back of the net consistently ranking just 44th out of the 51 teams to play games this season scoring just 2.00 goals per game. The powerplay is a major reason why Michigan State has struggled offensively as they have converted just 3-of-33 chances and rank 47th in the nation converting at 9.1 percent.
- The Spartan penalty kill has fared much better ranking second in the Big Ten and 21st nationally at 82.2 percent (37-for-45).
HOME IS WHERE YOU MAKE IT
- Penn State is 83-43-14 all-time at Pegula Ice Arena including an 11-5-3 record last season and a program-best 15 home victories during the 2018-19 season.
- The Nittany Lions went 3-1-0 on home ice during Phase I of the 2020-21 schedule and are now set to play 12 of their next 14 games inside the friendly confines of Pegula Ice Arena.
COMING ON STRONG
- Penn State has lost just twice in its last seven games after beginning the year 0-5. That .714 winning percentage is the 11th best mark in the NCAA over that time and the second-best mark in the Big Ten behind only Minnesota. The Nittany Lions' five wins are also the 11th most in the nation and the second most in the Big Ten since December 3.
- After going just 1-for-16 on the powerplay over the first five games of the season, including an 0-for-12 start, Penn State has regained its man-advantage swagger having scored at least one powerplay goal in four of the last seven games going 8-for-23 in the process including a 4-for-6 mark against Michigan on December 3. Penn State's 34.8 percent conversion rate during that stretch is the top mark in the country for teams that have played more than two games as only BU at 37.5 percent has a better mark, but the Terriers have only played twice
- Following the hot stretch the Nittany Lion powerplay currently stands at 23.1 percent (9-for-39) and has jumped from near the bottom nationally to 19th out of the 51 teams who have played games so far this season. Even with such a strong stretch with the man-advantage, Penn State still only ranks fifth out of the seven Big Ten teams.
CHASING GREATNESS
- Senior Alex Limoges has tallied a man-advantage goal in four of the last seven contests moving into a tie with four other former Nittany Lions for first on the Penn State all-time powerplay goal list with 13 for his career.
- Limoges' four powerplay goals this season lead the Big Ten and are tied for fifth nationally while his 11 points and seven goals rank tied for seventh and second, respectively, in the conference.
- Limoges also leads all active Big Ten players in points with 114 for his career to rank third nationally. His 48 career goals are also the most among active players in the Big Ten and rank second nationally.
- Limoges is currently tied with Liam Folkes '20 for fifth on the Penn State all-time goals list and is just one point shy of Denis Smirnov '20 for fifth on the all-time points list.
SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR HOCKEY!
- The Nittany Lions played their first Saturday game last weekend in Columbus after having played at least one game on every other day of the week so far this season.
- Historically Saturday has been the most successful day for Penn State. Over the past four-plus seasons the Nittany Lions are now 39-21-6 in games played on Saturday and went a 10-4-1 last season including a 6-1-1 mark during the second half.
- Over the past four seasons, Penn State has won the Big Ten Tournament on a Saturday, won it's first-ever NCAA Tournament game on a Saturday and last season came-from-behind to defeat Minnesota, 3-2 on a Saturday in a game that became a defacto Big Ten regular-season championship game.
BREAK THE WALL DOWN
- Sophomore Kevin Wall had just seven points on a pair of goals and five assists in 26 games last season but he has already bettered every statistical category from his 2019-20 season in just 12 games this year.
- Wall is tied with Limoges for the team lead with 11 points, good for seventh in the Big Ten, on five goals and six assists following a four-point weekend against the Buckeyes which landed him his first-ever weekly honor with a Third Star of the Week nod.
- The sophomore had a pair of multi-point efforts in Columbus marking just the third and fourth of his career and the second and third so far this season. His two assists on Friday night tied his career-best while his two goals on Saturday were a new single-game standard for Wall and marked his first career multi-goal game.
- In 10 Big Ten Conference games this season Wall has five goals and five assists for 10 points to rank tied for fifth in the conference while his five goals are tied for second in conference play.
NEXT UP
- Penn State remains home as the Nittany Lions welcome the 12th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers to Pegula Ice Arena next Thursday and Friday evening.
For more information on the 2020-21 season presented by the Penn State Bookstore: the Official Bookstore of Penn State Athletics, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.