Penn State returns to Hockey Valley for a two-game showdown with Michigan State this weekend. All eyes will be on the outdoor game on Saturday, but tonight’s game at Pegula Ice Arena should be a wild atmosphere.
Two of the best goaltenders in the NCAA will square off this weekend in a critical battle in the Big Ten standings. Penn State and Michigan State are separated by just one point entering this weekend.
How to Watch
Who: Michigan State Spartans
NPI Ranking (PSU): 2 (4)
When: Friday, January 30 and Saturday, January 31
Where: Pegula Ice Arena (Friday), Beaver Stadium (Saturday)
Times: 6pm (Friday), 1pm (Saturday)
TV: Big Ten Plus (Friday), Big Ten Network (Saturday)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network
Projected Lineup
Matt DiMarsico-Reese Laubach-JJ Wiebusch
Gavin McKenna-Dane Dowiak-Aiden Fink
Lev Katzin-Luke Misa-Ben Schoen
Shea Van Olm-Nic Chin-DeGraves-Alex Servagno
Jackson Smith-Jarod Crespo
Cade Christenson-Mac Gadowsky
Carter Schade-Nolan Collins
Josh Fleming
Kevin Reidler
Opponent Preview
Michigan State has been on a roll, winning its last four games, including a road sweep of Wisconsin one week prior to Penn State’s road sweep of Wisconsin. The Spartans come to State College with a record of 19-5 and a No. 2 ranking in the NPI.
Porter Martone has been as advertised this season, leading Michigan State in goals (14). Although he has been scoreless in his last four games, his goal scoring can wake up at any time. Senior Charlie Stramel has 13 goals and leads the team in assists (17). Tommi Mannisto (9 goals), Anthony Romani (9), Ryker Lee (9), and Daniel Russell (8) are all major threats to score for this offense as well. Michigan State is tied for 10th in the NCAA with 3.5 goals per game and tied for fourth in shots on goal per game (35.3). As we saw in the first series between these teams back in November, the Spartans will pressure early and often.
Michigan State has been very solid defensively all season, giving up just 28 shots on goal per game. Trey Augustine (.938 save percentage, 1.7 GAA) has been one of the top goaltenders in the NCAA this season and will likely carry the load for the Spartans in both games this weekend.
Michigan State is 22.4% on the power play (20th in NCAA) and 82.8% on the penalty kill (21st in NCAA).
News & Notes
- In case you missed it, Charlie Cerrato is out for the rest of the regular season for Penn State. Fortunately, Penn State is 5-0 in his absence, but the Lions will have to navigate the rest of the regular season without their top line center.
- Parking information for anyone attending Saturday’s game.
- A time lapse of Beaver Stadium being set up for this weekend’s hockey games.
- The all-time series between these two teams is tied 22-22-8.
Prediction
Penn State is a very different team now than the one that got blitzed in East Lansing in November. The offense has been red-hot even without Charlie Cerrato, and the team has been getting superb goaltending from Josh Fleming and Kevin Reidler. Michigan State is an excellent team in all three phases of the game, making this the most significant challenge Penn State has faced in a couple months. A split feels like the most likely outcome with how evenly matched these teams are in net. I predicted a split last weekend and Penn State got a sweep- maybe history will repeat itself…
Penn State 4-2, Michigan State 3-2
