After a rough series against Michigan State, No. 5 Penn State returns home to Pegula Ice Arena for a key home series against No. 2 Michigan. The Nittany Lions will need to at least get a split to avoid
falling too far behind in the conference standings.
How to Watch
Who: Michigan Wolverines
When: Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15
Where: Pegula Ice Arena, State College, PA
Times: 7pm (Friday), 6pm (Saturday)
TV: Big Ten Plus (both games)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network
Projected Lines
Matt DiMarsico-Charlie Cerrato-JJ Wiebusch
Gavin McKenna-Ben Schoen-Reese Laubach
Dane Dowiak-Nic Chin-DeGraves-Braedon Ford
Lev Katzin-Luke Misa-Shea Van Olm
Opponent Preview
Michigan was scorching hot out of the gate after its disappointing 2024-25 season that finished with an elimination in the Big Ten quarterfinals against Penn State. The Wolverines won their first seven games by a combined scoring margin of 46-7, including two games with double digit goals. Michigan has lost some steam in the last couple of weeks, with just a 3-2 record in its last five, but this is certainly one of the nation’s best teams.
Sophomore forward Will Horcoff is tied with Penn State’s JJ Wiebusch for the most goals in the NCAA this season (11). Linemates TJ Hughes and Michael Hage have combined for 13 goals this season. The DiMarsico-Cerrato-Wiebusch line will meet its match this weekend. The Wolverines are the highest-scoring team in the NCAA at 5.1 goals per game, and 11 players have at least three goals this season. This offense will be a nightmare for a struggling Penn State defense to shut down.
Defensively, Michigan is strong, holding opponents to just 23.5 shots on goal per game (5th in NCAA). Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic has started all 12 games this season, posting a .911 save percentage and 2.09 GAA. His numbers are lofty, although he has given up four goals in three of his last five starts. Good offenses have proven capable of cracking him, and after mustering just one goal in two games in East Lansing, Penn State will look to pressure him early and often.
Michigan has the No. 2 power play in the NCAA at 34.6%, and the penalty kill is 32nd at 80.4%. Penn State’s penalty kill has been strong (89.7%), but the Nittany Lions will be better served staying out of the penalty box.
News & Notes
- Michigan leads the all-time series 31-20-1
- Penn State will wear its throwback uniforms for Friday’s game.
- Both teams enter this series inside the Top 10 of the NPI, with Michigan at No. 6 and Penn State at No. 8.
- As Saturday is the final home game before the holidays, the annual Teddy Bear Toss benefiting THON will take place during the first intermission.
Around the Big Ten
- Ohio State will travel to Wisconsin coming off its bye week.
- Michigan State will hit the road to take on Notre Dame after taking five of six points from Penn State in its Big Ten opener.
- Minnesota hosts Long Island this weekend in a non-conference series.
Prediction
Michigan’s offense is always tough to defend, and the Wolverines have a long history of filling the net against suspect Penn State defenses. Fleming and Reidler have been very good in net, but the blue line will need to help them out for the Nittany Lions to win. The Wolverines have shown some warts on defense in the last couple of weeks after their red hot start. These games are more likely to be shootouts than the 2-1 game we saw in East Lansing last Friday. A split seems like the most likely outcome here. Penn State is good enough to take Game 1 at home, but Michigan’s offense will overwhelm the Nittany Lions’ defense in Game 2.
Penn State 6-5, Michigan 6-4
