Michigan
11-10-2, 6-7-2-1B1G
Penn State
13-9-3, 6-6-3-2B1G
Lavigne, Wolverines Blank No. 12 Nittany Lions
1/20/2018 12:08:00 AM | Ice Hockey
» Jack Becker had two goals Friday night, making it the first multi-goal game of his career.
» Brendan Warren scored to extend his goal streak to a career-high three games.
» Hayden Lavigne recorded 34 saves and earned his second shutout of the season.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: No. 20 Michigan 4, No. 12 Penn State 0
Records: U-M (11-10-2, 6-7-2-1 B1G), PSU (13-9-3, 6-6-3-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 20 -- vs. Penn State (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
• Watch: Penn State Postgame Report
• Feature: Lavigne Gets Shutout, Continues Instilling Confidence
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20 University of Michigan ice hockey team shut out No. 12-ranked Penn State, 4-0, Friday night (Jan. 19) at Yost Ice Arena. The victory was the Wolverines' sixth consecutive triumph against the Nittany Lions on home ice dating back to the 2014-15 season.
After failing to convert on the first two power plays of the game, freshman forward Jack Becker scored his second goal of the season 12:27 into the contest. The goal came off a shot from classmate Josh Norris, and Becker deflected it past PSU netminder Peyton Jones just five seconds after Penn State returned to full strength.
Penn State opened the second period with a strong start, and had its best attempt of the period at 5:09 with a breakaway from James Robinson; but sophomore goaltender Hayden Lavigne answered with a beautiful save to preserve Michigan's 1-0 lead for the Wolverines.
Near the end of the second, Michigan went short-handed after a hooking penalty, but the penalty kill allowed no shots on net and the Wolverines finished the period with the lead.
After sophomore forward Nick Pastujov won a faceoff back to brother Michael Pastujov, junior defenseman Joseph Cecconi's shot was deflected by Becker and it slid by the Penn State goalie to put the Wolverines up, 2-0, with 10:38 left in the third period. Becker's second goal of the night marked his third of the season and the first multi-goal game of his career.
Becker's goal seemed to light a fire under Michigan, and just under four minutes later (14:29) Norris received a pass from Jake Slaker, who put the puck top-shelf to increase the lead to three. Norris' goal was his seventh of the season and gave him back-to-back multi-point games.
At 18:01 in the third, Michigan received an interference penalty, putting them on the penalty kill for the remainder of the game, but it did not stop the Wolverines. Junior forward Brendan Warren answered with a shorthanded goal into an empty net, increasing the lead to four and securing the win for the Maize and Blue. It was Warren's seventh of the season, and increased his goal and points streaks to three games.
Lavigne recorded his second shutout of the season, and fourth of his career, saving all 34 shots he faced. The loss was only the second game this season in which Penn State has been shut out. The Nittany Lions entered the weekend as the nation's highest-scoring offense with 4.00 goals per game.
Michigan will close out the series against Nittany Lions on Saturday (Jan. 20) at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, with the game scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m.
