Michigan Hockey Tops Penn State 6-3 Behind Fast Start

Michigan scored three times in the first period, once in the second period, and twice more in the final two minutes of regulation to beat Penn State 6-3 on Friday night in Ann Arbor, holding off two separate Nittany Lions rallies along the way.

The Wolverines came out fast. Jack Nesbitt opened the scoring just 1:42 into the game, with Ben Robertson and Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen picking up the assists. Drew Schock made it 2-0 less than two minutes later, and Malcolm Spence buried a power-play goal at 6:06 to put Michigan up 3-0. Penn State got on the board before the period ended when Justin Poirier scored on the power play, assisted by Justin Larose and Lev Katzin, trimming the deficit to 3-1 after 20 minutes. Michigan held a 16-7 shot advantage through the first.

Penn State came out with some jump in the second. Shea Busch cut the Michigan lead to 3-2 just 1:23 in, assisted by Kale Dach and Andrew Kuzma, and the Nittany Lions outshot the Wolverines 13-10 over the period. But Michigan answered when Aidan Park restored the two-goal cushion at 10:01, with Schock and Cam Reid assisting, making it 4-2 heading to the third.

Penn State wasn't finished. Reese Laubach pulled the Nittany Lions back within one at 3:47 of the third, assisted by Katzin and Nolan Collins, making it 4-3. Larose appeared to tie the game later in the period, but the goal was overturned after a Michigan coach's challenge. Penn State continued to push, outshooting Michigan 11-9 in the third period, but couldn't find the equalizer. Nick Moldenhauer restored a two-goal lead for Michigan at 18:01, assisted by Landon DuPont and Spence, and Robertson added an empty-net goal at 19:21, assisted by Michael Hage and Cole McKinney, to make it a final of 6-3.

Spence led all players with three points on a goal and two assists, while Schock and Robertson each finished with a goal and an assist. DuPont and Hage both chipped in two assists apiece, and DuPont paced Michigan with five shots on goal. Michigan finished with a 35-31 edge in shots on goal for the game.

For Penn State, Katzin had two assists, and Poirier, Busch and Laubach each scored a goal. Jackson Smith, Busch and Poirier each put four shots on net. Goaltender Joshua Fleming made 29 saves on 34 shots faced (allowing five before Michigan's empty-netter). Michigan's Jack Ivankovic turned aside 28 shots for the win.

Both special teams units went 1-for-3 on the power play, and each team was whistled for five penalties totaling 10 minutes. Penn State held a 15-12 edge in blocked shots.

Michigan improves to 9-1-0 on the season, while Penn State falls to 2-8-1.

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