Smith Sets Single-Season Defenseman Goal Record in 4-4 Draw at No. 2 MichiganSmith Sets Single-Season Defenseman Goal Record in 4-4 Draw at No. 2 Michigan
Paul Barnick

Smith Sets Single-Season Defenseman Goal Record in 4-4 Draw at No. 2 Michigan

Author John Hanna
Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Freshman Jackson Smith (Calgary, Alberta) scored twice, including the game-tying goal late in the third period as No. 6 Penn State and No. 2 Michigan skated to a 4-4 tie in Big Ten Conference action at Yost Ice Arena on Friday evening.

Penn State moves to 18-8-1 and 10-6-1 in Big Ten play following the tie while the Wolverines now sit 23-5-1 on the year and 14-4-1 in conference action. Michigan secured the extra point in the Big Ten standings winning the shootout, 1-0.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Penn State wasted little time opening the scoring just 58 ticks into the first period as junior Reese Laubach (San Jose, Calif.) redirected a cross-ice pass from sophomore JJ Wiebusch (Verona, Wis.) into a yawning net after junior Matt DiMarsico (Wexford, Pa.) used a neutral-zone stick lift to steal the puck and start the rush.
  • Michigan evened the contest near the midway point of the first period as Garrett Schifsky slipped a rebound home after Drew Schock’s initial chance was turned aside for the 1-1 score at the 9:18 mark.
  • The Nittany Lions regained the lead as Smith collected a loose puck in the slot and mohawked down the far side before firing a sharp angle shot that beat Wolverine net-minder Jack Ivankovic far-side past the blocker for the 2-1 advantage at 11:35 of the first period.
  • The hosts responded again taking advantage of an extended 5-on-3 powerplay as TJ Hughes one-timed the puck from below the left dot for the for the 2-2 scorer at the 14:25 mark.
  • Penn State regained the lead for the third time nearing the mid-point of the second stanza taking advantage of another offensive zone turnover as freshman Shea Van Olm (Calgary, Alberta) found sophomore Nic Chin-DeGraves (Edmonton, Alberta) and he fired far-side past the glove for the 3-2 edge at the 8:20 mark.
  • Michigan pulled the game even once again as Asher Barnett’s slapshot slipped between the legs of Nittany Lion freshman goaltender Josh Fleming (Montreal, Quebec) for the 3-3 score at 11:17 of the middle frame.
  • The Wolverines took their first lead of the game just past the midway point of the third period as Hughes knocked one out of the air and into a yawning net on an odd-man rush after Fleming turned aside the initial shot for the 4-3 lead at the 10:21 mark.
  • The Nittany Lions received a late third period powerplay and made it count as Smith lasered home his second of the game from the slot for the 4-4 score at 16:46 of the third period.
  • After an entertaining, but scoreless overtime session, Michigan secured the extra point with a, 1-0, shootout victory on a goal from Michael Hage.

GOALTENDING

Fleming moves to 8-4-1 on the year following a 33-save performance in the tie while his counterpart, Jack Ivankovic, stopped 34 shots and is now 18-5-1 overall.

NOTES

  • Penn State held the slim, 38-37, edge in shots on goal while going 1-for-3 on the man-advantage while Michigan went 1-for-5 on the powerplay for the game.
  • The tie is the first for the Nittany Lions since a 2-2 draw at No. 1 Michigan State last February and it is the first shootout loss for Penn State since the Frozen Confines against Notre Dame.
  • Penn State is now 4-2-1 in its last seven games at Yost Ice Arena.
  • Laubach’s first period goal snapped a streak of four-straight games where the opponent has opened the scoring against the Nittany Lions.
  • With one goal and one assist, Laubach secures his second multi-point game of the season and the 16th of his career.
  • With a pair of goals, Smith secures his first career multi-goal game and has now scored more goals in a single-season than any defenseman in Penn State history. It also marks his fifth multi-point effort of the season.

NEXT UP

Both teams return to Yost tomorrow evening to conclude the season series with a 5 p.m. puck drop.

For more information on the 2025-26 season, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.