Penn State men’s hockey (12-10-3, 3-9-3 Big Ten) defeated No. 13 Michigan (14-11-2, 8-8-1 Big Ten) in game one of its two-game set in Ann Arbor.

In a game full of momentum swings, Penn State erased an initial two-goal deficit en route to securing a 4-2 lead heading into the third period. However, Michigan came out of its locker room hot and tied the game midway through the final period of regulation. Late in the third, JJ Wiebusch scored a power-play goal that ended up being the game-winner.

Aiden Fink added to his stellar season with two goals and an assist, while Reese Laubach and Tyler Paquette also found the back of the net.

How It Happened

Michigan won the opening faceoff and immediately went on the offensive, pinning Penn State in its zone. Will Horcoff had a scoring opportunity from the right circle, but his shot went wide of Sergeev and the Nittany Lions cleared.

With just under five minutes elapsed in the game, Michigan struck first. Jackson Hallium skated in tight on Arsenii Sergeev and drew the goaltender to one side of the net. The defensemen then dished the puck to Evan Werner for an easy tap-in at the far post to put the Wolverines ahead.

Thirty seconds after the Michigan goal, Penn State headed to the power play with a chance to respond as Mark Estapa sat for high-sticking. Neither power play unit could establish the zone, and the Wolverines killed the penalty with little resistance.

After its failed power play, Penn State forced an offensive zone turnover, and the puck kicked out to Simon Mack, who found Fink down low. The forward tried a backhanded shot, but Logan Stein made a lunging save with his stick to keep the Nittany Lions off the board.

Penn State continued its sloppy play as the period approached its 15-minute mark. As a result, Michigan sprang on a three-on-two rush, where Casey Aman recorded a strong block to thwart the scoring chance.

With 2:37 remaining in the period, Michigan doubled its lead. Sergeev stopped an initial shot off the stick of TJ Hughes, but the puck kicked out to Will Felicio down low, where the defenseman fired a shot into the back of the net.

A minute and a half later, the Nittany Lions responded after a Michigan turnover. Danny Dzhaniyev and Fink skated up the ice on a two-on-one rush, where Dzhaniyev dished the puck to Fink, and the forward fired the puck past a sliding Stein to cut Penn State’s deficit in half.

A big one for one-eight heading into the break!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/xyY1rh9F61

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 1, 2025

Stein saved a pair of shots just before the final horn, and the teams headed back to the dressing room with Michigan ahead 2-1.

Once again, Michigan won the opening faceoff of the second period and established its offensive zone. After multiple failed attempts to clear by Penn State, Sergeev managed to cover the puck for a defensive zone faceoff.

Fink took an offensive zone holding penalty, and the Wolverines headed to the power play with 3:30 elapsed in the period. Twenty-five seconds into the power play, Penn State flipped the script to tie the game. Paquette received a pass at the blue line and skated up ice, where the forward unleashed a wicked wrist shot over Stein’s shoulder after a toe-drag deke.

SNIPESHOW!! #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/90pzHTT3cV

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 1, 2025

With the momentum from its short-handed goal, Penn State killed the remainder of Fink’s penalty and returned to full strength.

After periods of back-and-forth play in the neutral zone, the Nittany Lions headed to their second power play of the evening as Philippe Lapointe sat for interference with just over 10 minutes remaining. Twenty-seven seconds in, Penn State took the lead after Fink beat Stein five-hole on a snapshot from the right faceoff circle.

Dowiak, Fink

We'll take a closer look.#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/fQsY4dB2MR

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 1, 2025

Right out of the media timeout, Josh Eernisse nearly tied the game for the Wolverines. The forward dashed up ice on a partial breakaway and fired a shot into Sergeev’s chest from the left circle. Shortly after, Hallum had an opportunity at the front of the net that Sergeev saved and covered for a faceoff.

With under six minutes to go in the period, Fink nearly completed the hat trick on a breakaway after Michigan turned the puck over. However, the forward could not get a clean shot away and the puck deflected wide of Stein.

Penn State continued to apply pressure on Michigan and nearly doubled its lead. DiMarsico had a wide-open net with the puck near the goal line, but a dazzling diving glove save by Stein kept the Wolverines within one.

With 3:32 to go, William Whitelaw took an interference penalty to send Penn State back to the power play. This edition of Penn State’s power play was similar to its first, as the Nittany Lions never established the zone and Michigan secured the easy kill.

Just before the end of the period, Penn State doubled its lead off of the rush. Dzhaniyev dished a cross-ice pass to Laubach as the pair entered Michigan’s zone, and Laubach fired the puck just inside the far post to give Penn State a 4-2 advantage.

Four-straight goals for the Nittany Lions!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/r5efcTQsFi

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 1, 2025

Neither team could get anything going with the remaining half minute and headed back to the locker room with Penn State leading.

Cameron Korpi replaced Stein, and Penn State won the opening faceoff to begin the final period of regulation.

One minute in, Garrett Schifsky leveled Charlie Cerrato near the benches, and the hit triggered an official review for a potential major penalty. After a brief review, a penalty was not given to Schifsky, and play continued.

Michigan dominated much of the opening minutes, and Hughes nearly got Michigan back within one goal. After a defensive breakdown by Penn State, the forward was left alone in the slot and unleashed a one-timer that Sergeev saved.

After continued dominance from the Wolverines, they were finally rewarded with just over 11 minutes remaining in regulation. On a delayed penalty, Hughes dished a cross-crease pass to Kienan Draper, who put the puck into the open net and cut Michigan’s deficit to one goal.

As Michigan’s dominance continued, Laubach took a slashing penalty with eight minutes remaining to send the Wolverines back to the power play. After its first wave could not get anything going, Michigan tied the game with 18 seconds left on its power play. Whitelaw received a pass and fired a shot from the left circle to beat Sergeev.

Twenty-two seconds after the goal, Lapointe took a boarding penalty in the Michigan offensive zone. Penn State challenged for a major penalty, but the two-minute call stood and Penn State headed to the man advantage.

Late in the power play, Penn State retook the lead. After a nice feed from Cerrato, Wiebusch fired a backhanded shot over a stickless Korpi to notch the power play goal and put the Nittany Lions ahead 5-4.

JOHN. JAMES. #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/LlHfCdDVBh

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 1, 2025

Searching for the game-tying goal, Michigan pulled Korpi for an extra skater with just over two minutes remaining. Despite Michigan’s best efforts, Penn State held and secured the upset win.

Takeaways

• One theme of Penn State’s torrid start to the second half has been resilience, and it showed again in tonight’s game. Michigan dominated much of the first period and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but Penn State got a goal back before the end of the period. Michigan erased a 4-2 Penn State lead, but thanks to the Wiebusch goal, Penn State battled back for the victory.
• Fink continued to cement himself among the best to put on a Penn State sweater, as the forward helped will the comeback. The forward tallied two goals and one assist, bringing his season point total to 36 in just 25 games.
• After missing the Ohio State series due to injury, Cerrato returned to the lineup and made an impact. In addition to notching an assist on Wiebusch’s go-ahead goal, the center made an impact at both ends of the ice.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will continue their series against the Wolverines at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 1. Additionally, the game will be streamed on BTN+.