There may have been nine combined goals, but it was a different recipe than usual as No. 2 Michigan Hockey secured a home sweep of No. 6 Penn State on Saturday night with a 6-3 victory.
The Wolverines (24-5-1, 14-4-1 Big Ten, 43 points) delivered one of their better defensive efforts of the season as freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic looked like himself, making 30 saves and a handful of spectacular ones, including a lunging, glove stop to preserve a then 3-1 lead.
An empty-netter by junior forward
Nick Moldenhauer made it 6-3 with 61 seconds left, and had it not been for a late Nittany Lions (18-9-1, 10-7-1 Big Ten, 33 points) two-goal push, the final score would have been more reflective of Michigan’s dominance.
The Wolverines did an excellent job of limiting high-danger chances and forcing Penn State into perimeter shots that Ivankovic made look easy.
Seven-and-a-half minutes into the first, freshman forward Cole McKinney broke the ice. He won an offensive zone draw, did well to position himself in front of the crease and redirected a point shot-pass from senior defenseman Luca Fantilli. McKinney continues to make high-IQ plays, is a real face off weapon and looks far beyond his years.
Almost four minutes later, Moldenhauer got his first after junior defenseman Ben Robertson — who usually stands out for his responsible defensive game — made a nifty move on the right wing, drove into the slot and momentarily lost the puck. But Moldenhauer was there to tuck home Michigan’s second goal, making it 2-0.
Penn State did answer, as it won a battle in the corner, and a drop pass led to forward Reese Laubach wristing a shot past Ivankovic. However, that was about all the Wolverines would allow, as the top pair of Fantilli and senior Tyler Duke shut down this high-octane attack. Meanwhile, Robertson and freshman Drew Schock helped hold down the fort, and sophomore Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen and freshman Asher Barnett provide this unit with even more depth, smooth skating and jam.
Junior forward Jayden Perron provided a crucial, tic-tac-toe power play insurance goal to make it 3-1 in the second. It started with senior forward T.J. Hughes, who had two assists, walking down the slot and hitting freshman forward Malcolm Spence on the post, who proceeded to find Perron in the low slot.
Unlike Friday night’s up-and-down shootout, this was a far more encouraging performance from Michigan. Those defensemen and help from the forwards continued to stymie Penn State, which grew desperate to cut the deficit.
Instead, it was sophomore Will Horcoff ending his four-game goal drought, as his right circle shot hit a skate and took a fortuitous bounce into the net. He has been in a bit of a slump lately and the hope is that lucky score reverses his fortunes.
Sophomore forward Michael Hage earned a secondary assist on Horcoff’s goal, too, bringing his total to two and furthering his outstanding offensive output.
Shortly thereafter, freshman forward Adam Valentini was the recipient of Spence poking the puck free off a faceoff and he was left alone for the Wolverines’ fifth goal.
The Nittany Lions did show life down the stretch, as Laubach scored on a power play and forward Luka Misa redirected a Gavin McKenna shot. Yet, it was too little too late, and after Moldenhauer’s empty netter, the Children of Yost were finally treated to some post-whistle scrums, which resulted in a bevy of penalties.
Now, Michigan gets to celebrate its weekend before heading to Madison for a couple of dates with the Badgers.
