Michigan
Penn State
Maize and Blue to Face Off with Penn State in Weekend B1G Series
1/18/2018 10:40:00 AM | Ice Hockey
THIS WEEK
Friday, Jan. 19 -- vs. #12 Penn State (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 8 p.m.
Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Listen | Watch
Saturday, Jan. 20 -- vs. #12 Penn State (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
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• Complete Game Notes: Jan. 19 (PDF)
• Complete Game Notes: Jan. 20 (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team (10-10-2, 5-7-2-1 B1G) is set to face off with No. 12 Penn State (13-8-3, 6-5-3-2 B1G) at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena this weekend (Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-20) in a Big Ten Conference showdown. Friday's contest will be televised on Big Ten Network.
The Penn State Series
Michigan and Penn State meet for just the 22nd time, with the series starting in 2014. Since then Michigan holds an 11-10 advantage over Penn State. The two teams first met on Feb. 7, 2014, when Michigan defeated Penn State 7-3 in State College, Pennsylvania. In addition, Michigan holds a 6-2 record at home against Penn State.
Earlier this season in State College, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Penn State split two games. Penn State defeated Michigan, 5-4 in overtime, in the first game (Friday, Oct. 27), while Michigan was able to win the next game, 5-2 (Saturday, Oct. 28).
The "DMC" line of Dexter Dancs (3g, 2a), Cooper Marody (1g, 5a) and Tony Calderone (2g, 2a) combined for 15 points (6g, 9a) during the weekend series.
Scouting the Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions are led by head coach Guy Gadowsky, who is in his 19th year as a head coach for an NCAA program. He has been with Penn State for five seasons now. Gadowsky holds a record of 114-85-12 at Penn State and a 258-278-49 record overall since becoming a collegiate head coach. At Penn State, Gadowsky has been responsible for the rise of the program since it joined the Division I ranks. He was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2014-15 and led the Nittany Lions to their first 20-win season as a Division I program in 2015-16. Prior to joining Penn State, Gadowsky was the head coach for Princeton and the University of Alaska.
Penn State enters the weekend against Michigan at No. 12 in the country with a record of 13-8-3 (6-5-3-2Â B1G). Most recently, the Nittany Lions split a series against Ohio State in conference play.
Leading Penn State
Penn State's offense is led by junior Andrew Sturtz, who heads into the weekend with 30 points (11g, 19a). Sophomores Denis Smirnov (10g) and Nate Sucese (11g) have both scored double-digit goals this season.
In net, the Gophers are led by sophomore Peyton Jones, who has started 21 games and is 12-6-2 with a save percentage of .903. He has allowed 59 goals, which is a rate of 2.96 per game.
Taming the Lions
Tony Calderone has a five-game point streak against the Nittany Lions, recording eight points (5g, 3a) during the streak.
Last Weekend's Sweep in Minneapolis
The Wolverines swept the No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers last weekend, moving to 10-10-2 overall. It is the first time Michigan has swept Minnesota on the road since 1977. The wins also brought the Mariucci/Renfrew Coaches' Trophy back to Ann Arbor for the first time since the 2008-09 season. The trophy is awarded to either Michigan or Minnesota based on the better regular-season record.
Junior Brendan Warren totaled three goals throughout the weekend, while the "DMC" line of Dexter Dancs (1g), Cooper Marody (2g) and Tony Calderone (3a) totaled six points (3g, 3a).
D-E-F-E-N-S-E
The Wolverines held the Gophers to 18 shots in their last game, which is a Michigan opponent season low and tied for the fewest Minnesota has taken all season. The two shots allowed in the third period are the fewest Michigan has allowed in a period this season. The 45 total shots over the weekend by the Gophers are also the fewest the Wolverines have surrendered during a weekend series this season.
Stars Align for Warren
Brendan Warren was named B1G First Star of the Week after recording three goals last weekend at No. 9 Minnesota, helping lead U-M to the weekend sweep.
Hobey Hopefuls
Calderone and Marody have both been nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's top player. Michigan has had two Hobey Baker winners in its history, with Brendan Morrison winning in 1997 and Kevin Porter in 2008.
Run DMC
Michigan's "DMC" line of Dexter Dancs, Cooper Marody and Tony Calderone have combined for 75 points out of a total of 193 team points (38.9 percent) through 22 games.
Tony Lights the Lamp
Calderone's 15 goals are the most by a U-M player in the first 22 games of a season since Louie Caporusso's 18 goals in 22 games during the 2008-09 campaign.
Marody in Good Company
Marody's 31 points are most by a Wolverine through 22 games since Kevin Porter had 39 in 2007-08 when he won the Hobey Baker Award.
Quinn-tessential Blueliner
Freshman defenseman Quinn Hughes' 13 points (1g, 12a) from the point are the most by a U-M freshman blueliner through 22 games since Zach Werenski had 18 points through that span in 2014-15.
Climbin' the Ranks
Marody ranks tied for third nationally with 31 points on the season and second with 22 assists. Calderone is tied for seventh nationally with 15 goals.
GOALLL!!!
Michigan ranks 11th in the nation in goals per game, averaging 3.32 goals over its first 22 games. Calderone ranks tied for sixth in the nation in goals per game at 0.68.
Block It Out
Michigan ranks sixth nationally with an average of 14.82 blocked shots per game and ninth in total blocked shots with 326 on the season.
SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS
Michigan ranks eighth nationally with an average of 33.8 shots on goal per game and is 15th in the nation with a +4.14 shots on goal margin per game.
Up Ahead
Michigan will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on rival Ohio State for a weekend series at Value City Arena for its fourth straight Big Ten Conference series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday (Jan. 26), while Saturday's (Jan. 27) game will start at 8 p.m.
