Postseason hockey is upon the Nittany Lions.

Penn State men’s hockey begins its run with a best-of-three series at Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. The series is highly important for Penn State’s chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament. While their No. 14 PairWise ranking would qualify the Nittany Lions if the bracket was decided ahead of the Big Ten Tournament, it’s close enough that a series win or loss could sway the rankings in either direction.

The Nittany Lions went 1-3 against the Wolverines this season, with their lone victory being a 5-4 win in Ann Arbor’s Yost Ice Arena on January 31. However, that subpar record can be erased if they do certain things this weekend.

Play Complete Games

Head coach Guy Gadowsky has emphasized the importance of “playing complete games” throughout much of the season. It’s something Penn State spent significant time working on during its December break, and that has obviously paid off significantly down the stretch.

Gadowsky pointed out various times when the Nittany Lions would play well one period and then badly another. If the Nittany Lions didn’t fix this and began playing their brand of hockey more consistently during games, their NCAA Tournament odds would be in the gutter.

Continue Solid Goaltending

Another massive factor in Penn State’s success is goaltender Arsenii Sergeev. After missing several weeks due to an injury, he returned against Notre Dame in Chicago and has been playing terrific hockey since. His final regular season statistics amount to a .918% save rate, 760 saves, and a 2.57 goals-against-average, all of which are career-highs.

Gadowsky, as well as several players, have raved about how the Yaroslavl, Russia, native impacts the team both on and off the ice. They feel more confident playing in front of him, while his competitiveness gives him an edge in any situation. If he continues to play like himself, it’s hard not to like his team’s chances moving forward.

First Line Success

Hobey Baker candidate Aiden Fink is arguably the best player in the country, as he’s second in the nation with 23 goals and 1.38 points per game. But part of what’s helped him achieve these numbers are linemates Reese Laubach and Danny Dzhaniyev.

While Fink is a Nashville Predators prospect, Laubach is with his native San Jose Sharks. Laubach had 15 goals and 14 assists for 29 points in the regular season, which surpassed last season’s total by a fine margin despite playing in five fewer games.

Dzhaniyev, meanwhile, has flourished with his skill, speed, and finesse. The Brooklyn, New York, native had a career-most 11 goals, while he also tallied 17 assists for 28 points. The senior is one of 11 players who were on Penn State’s roster the last time it qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2023.

This is, of course, cliché, but Fink needs to be the best player on the ice. However, he can’t do it without Laubach’s and Dzhaniyev’s support.

Remain Confident

When it comes to confidence, this team is feeling it right now. The Nittany Lions believe they can beat anyone in the country, and they’ve been playing like it. After starting 0-8 in conference play, Penn State finished the season 9-11-4, which is fifth in the Big Ten.

Vibes and morale are especially important in the postseason, as they can dictate momentum on the ice. If Penn State keeps the same energy, and there’s no reason why it wouldn’t, it could be important.