EAST LANSING, Mich. – Penn State trailed early and fought back hard, but could not find the equalizer as Michigan State secured the 2-1 victory in Big Ten Conference action on Saturday evening inside Munn Ice Arena.
The win snaps a 13-game losing streak for the Spartans who improve to 12-21-1 on the year and 6-18-0-1-0-0 in Big Ten action while the Nittany Lions finish the regular-season 15-18-1 overall and 6-17-1-1-1-1 in conference action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Michigan State opened the scoring as Josh Nodler slipped home a rebound after Jagger Joshua's initial bid was turned aside for the 1-0 edge at 10:33 of the first period.
- Penn State got the equalizer with less than a minute to go in the first period as junior Connor McMenamin (Collegeville, Pa.) connected with classmate Kevin Wall (Penfield, N.Y.) on a cross-crease pass and the later tapped the puck across the goal line at the near post for the 1-1 score with just 56.7 second remaining in the first period.
- The Spartans answered just 48 seconds later to regain the lead heading into the first intermission as Adam Goodsir sent a tight angle shot on net from the far halfwall that snuck between the post and Nittany Lion sophomore net-minder Liam Souliere (Brampton, Ontario) for the 2-1 advantage with just 9 ticks left in the frame.
- The teams then played the final 40 minutes scoreless with Michigan State killing off a five-minute major penalty midway through the third period to hang on for the victory.
GOALTENDING
Souliere falls to 5-5-1 on the year after stopping 24 shots while his counterpart, Drew DeRidder, improves to 9-13-1 this season following a 38-save performance.
NOTES
- Penn State held the 39-26 edge in shots on goal including the commanding 20-2 margin in the third period, but were unable to find the equalizer against DeRidder.
- After eight combined powerplays last night, Penn State had the lone man-advantage opportunity of the game, but were unable to solve the MSU kill and score on the five-minute major as the Spartans blocked seven shots while DeRidder made four saves.
- The Spartans blocked 24 shots to just 11 from the Nittany Lions.
- Michigan State also controlled the faceoff circle winning 39-of-66 draws (59 percent).
- Penn State and Michigan State split the overall season series and the two teams have now split the series in East Lansing each of the last five years.
NEXT UP
- Penn State hits the road next weekend for a best-of-three series in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against either Ohio State or Notre Dame pending on the outcome of the Minnesota vs. Wisconsin game later tonight.
- If Minnesota wins, Penn State will be the five-seed and travel to Columbus, however, should Wisconsin secure any points then the Nittany Lions will be the six-seed and travel to South Bend.
For more information on the 2021-22 season presented by the Penn State Bookstore: 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.