Michigan
3-2-0, 0-1-0-0B1G
Penn State
4-3-0, 2-1-0-0B1G
Michigan Drops Heartbreaker to Penn State in Overtime
10/27/2017 11:09:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Dexter Dancs recorded two goals -- his first career multi-goal game.
» Josh Norris and Will Lockwood are currently riding three-game point streaks after recording a goal and an assist tonight, respectively.
» Jack LaFontaine recorded a season-high 49 saves in net.
Site: State College, Pa. (Pegula Ice Arena)
Score: Penn State 5, Michigan 4 (OT)
Records: U-M (3-2-0, 0-1-0-0 B1G), Penn State (4-3-0, 2-1-0-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 28 -- at Penn State (Pegula Ice Arena), 8 p.m.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Michigan ice hockey was unable to hold on to a late lead and fell in overtime, 5-4, to Penn State on Friday night (Oct. 27) in Big Ten action at Pegula Ice Arena. Senior forward Dexter Dancs recorded a career-high two goals in the losing effort.
Michigan got on the board first two minutes into the contest when sophomore forward Will Lockwood took a pass from freshman forward Josh Norris and threw a back-handed shot on net that beat the Penn State net minder through the wickets. Nearly two minutes later it was Dancs with a shot from the top of the faceoff circle on a feed from junior forward Cooper Marody to give U-M an early 2-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions capitalized on an odd-man rush to cut their deficit to 2-1 heading into the first intermission on a goal by Andrew Sturtz that trickled past sophomore goaltender Jack LaFontaine.
After U-M killed off two consecutive Penn State power-play opportunities, the Nittany Lions tied the contest at two midway through the second period by Dennis Smirnov on an odd-man rush off a pass by Nate Sucese.
Michigan was able to capitalize on a man-advantage opportunity at the 16:01 mark of the second period to regain the lead (3-2) when junior defenseman Joseph Cecconi found Dancs in front of a crowded net – and he pushed in his second of the game. This was U-M's first power-play goal in its last 20 opportunities, with its last man-up goal coming in the season opener at St. Lawrence.
The third period would start with Penn State evening the score at three apiece 4:32 into the stanza by Alex Limoges off a pass from Liam Folkes. Just over a minute later (5:59 mark), Marody regained the advantage for the Maize and Blue with a snipe just inside the slot, top-shelf off a pass from senior forward Tony Calderone.
With 1:32 remaining in the contest the Nittany Lions evened the score for the third time on the night off the stick of Chase Berger. Just 53 seconds into overtime it would be Blake Gober who scored the game-winner for Penn state off a pass from James Robinson to seal the comeback for the hosts.
LaFontaine made 49 saves on the night -- his highest total since making a career-high 53 stops last season (Dec. 2, 2016) in the same building against Penn State.
This was the second overtime contest for the Maize and Blue in a Big Ten opener, the last being a 4-3 win over Ohio State on Nov. 29, 2013.
The Wolverines fall to 10-10-0 all-time against Penn State and are 2-6 all time in State College.
Michigan and Penn State will be back in action tomorrow night (Oct. 28) to wrap up the weekend series. Puck drop is scheduled for 8 p.m.
