Michigan
7-2-0, 0-1-0
Penn State
9-0-0, 3-0-0
Michigan Offense Stymied in Loss to Undefeated No. 13 Penn State
11/4/2022 11:07:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Noah West was spectacular in his first start, making 46 saves on 48 shots faced.
» Gavin Brindley had a strong game, leading Michigan with four shots on goal.
» Adam Fantilli's career-opening point streak (eight goals, 10 assists) was snapped at eight games.
Site: State College, Pa. (Pegula Ice Arena)
Score: #13 Penn State 3, #1 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (7-2-0, 0-1-0 B1G), PSU (9-0-0, 3-0-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 5 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7:30 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The nation's highest-producing offense was held off the scoresheet on Friday night (Nov. 4), as the top-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team was defeated 3-0 by No 13 Penn State inside Pegula Ice Arena.
A late empty-net goal put the game away for the still-undefeated Nittany Lions and set up an important rubber match Saturday evening (Nov. 5).
With stalwart goaltender Erik Portillo under the weather and unable to make the trip, it was junior netminder Noah West who was thrust into the spotlight between the pipes for U-M inside a raucous scene featuring the second-largest crowd in the building's history. In his first start as a Wolverine, the Pittsboro, Ind., native finished the night as the best player in maize and blue. West stopped 46 of the 48 shots he faced to keep the score close in his first collegiate start since March 14, 2021, when he suited up for Robert Morris.
The best chance of the early-going came when Seamus Casey jumped into the offensive zone and pulled off a crisp toe drag around a defender to create room for a dangerous shot on goal from the high slot. After the opening 10 minutes, shots were 12-3 in PSU's favor.
West quickly became the story of the opening period, as his 16 saves kept the game scoreless through a period in which Penn State (9-0-0, 3-0-0 Big Ten) shot early and often; they ended with a 16-4 lead in shots on goal. Each team began 0-for-1 on the power play, while Michigan held an early 8-6 edge in faceoffs.
Penn State kept the puck in the Michigan zone for a long shift as the game approached its midpoint, applying pressure on West's net while the Wolverines scrambled to get the puck out of the zone and change lines. After a massive shot block from alternate captain Jacob Truscott initially kept the Nittany Lions off the board, a tic-tac-toe passing play eventually led to a 1-0 lead for the home team, with the goal coming at 7:18.
Less than two minutes later, at 8:38, it was another precise passing play, this time in transition, that wound up in the back of the Michigan net to give Penn State a 2-0 lead.
With Michigan (7-2-0, 0-1-0 Big Ten) searching for a goal to open the floodgates, Casey continued his strong end-to-end play throughout the final frame. Most notably, the blueliner dashed back to break up a Nittany Lions breakaway chance with a perfectly-timed stick check before crashing into the end wall near the halfway point of the third period.
While the Wolverines were on a power play in the waning minutes of the third period, a pair of freshmen nearly connected for an ice-breaking goal. Gavin Brindley, who had a strong all-around game, spun out of the slot with the puck before sending a cross-crease pass to classmate Rutger McGroarty. The puck reached McGroarty's stick but skittered off the side of the blade.
West was pulled for an extra attacker with 3:10 left in regulation before the Nittany Lions cashed in on the empty net to make it 3-0 with 2:49 left.
Tempers flared with 2:19 remaining after Mark Estapa was tagged with a boarding penalty to give Penn State another power play late in the game. For the fourth time in as many tries, the U-M penalty-kill unit successfully dismissed the PSU advantage.
The Nittany Lions put the finishing touches on a shutout victory, the program's first over Michigan since Feb. 8, 2014, to remain undefeated on the season. In addition, Michigan's 17 shots on goal were the fewest in a game since March 1, 2017. Ending the night with a massive 49-17 advantage in shots on goal, PSU also finished with a 33-20 edge in faceoffs. Neither side scored a power-play goal; Michigan was 0-for-2 while Penn State went 0-for-4.
Saturday night, U-M will look to wrap up its first Big Ten series of the year against Penn State on a winning note. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m., and the contest will be streamed live on BIG+.
