Michigan Set for Road Clash with No. 5 Penn State

THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 16 -- vs. Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
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Saturday, Nov. 17 -- vs. Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
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• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (5-4-0) continues its Big Ten schedule when it travels to No. 5-ranked Penn State (8-1-0) this weekend (Nov. 16-17).

The Penn State Series

Michigan and Penn State will meet for the 24th time in program history, with the series beginning in 2014. The Wolverines hold a 13-10-0 lead in the all-time series against Penn State, but are 3-6-0 in Happy Valley. The two teams last met Jan. 19-20, when the Wolverines earned a weekend sweep, 4-0 and 3-2, in Ann Arbor.

Scouting the Nittany Lions

Finishing at 18-15-5 (9-10-5 B1G) last season, the Nittany Lions were among the top teams in the Big Ten conference and made their way into the Big Ten Semifinals where they narrowly lost to Notre Dame, 3-2. Penn State qualified for its second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, where they were knocked out in the first round by Denver, 5-1.

Penn State's roster lost two of their top points leaders from last season in Andrew Sturtz (14 goals, 28 assists) and defenseman Trevor Hamilton (6G, 23A). Four of the Nittany Lions' top-six point scorers have returned: Brandon Biro, Nate Sucese, Denis Smirnov and Chase Berger.

The Nittany Lions are led by head coach Guy Gadowsky, who is in his seventh season at the helm and 20th overall season as an NCAA Division I head coach. Gadowsky has led Penn State to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and in 2016-17 he led PSU to its most successful season in program history, compiling a record of 25-12-2 and winning the 2017 Big Ten Tournament. Prior to Penn State, Gadowsky was the bench boss at Princeton (2004-11) and Alaska-Fairbanks (1999-2004).

Penn State This Year

The Nittany Lions will host the Wolverines after Penn State started its season 8-1-0. PSU has had a consistently strong season, winning its first six games, until an overtime loss to Arizona State. The Nittany Lions added two more wins this past weekend in a sweep against Robert Morris.

Junior forward Nikita Pavlychev and sophomore forward Alex Limoges lead PSU in points with 16 each; both players have seven goals and nine assists so far this season. Senior goaltender Chris Funkey (.905 save percentage) has started four of the team's games and has won all four of them. Junior goalie Peyton Jones (.919 save percentage) has started the other five games and has a 4-1-0 record.

Last Weekend Recap

The Wolverines hosted No. 6 Notre Dame last Friday and Saturday (Nov. 9-10). Michigan got off to a strong start, defeating the Irish Friday night, 2-1, before falling, 6-2, on Saturday evening. Freshman netminder Strauss Mann earned the win on Friday in net while recording 26 saves.

No Joshin' Around

Josh Norris sits fifth in points in the Big Ten and is tied for seventh in the country with 13 (six goals, seven assists). Norris has recorded points in eight of the Wolverines' nine games this season.

Locked In

Will Lockwood is riding a team-high four-game point streak heading into the weekend after recording his third goal of the season last Saturday (Nov. 11).

Oh Captain, Our Captain

Joseph Cecconi's nine assists are tied for fifth most amongst defensemen in the country and are tops amongst B1G defensemen.

Slake and Bake

Jake Slaker has recorded points in six of Michigan's nine games this season, giving him a total of nine points (five goals, four assists). The junior forward has had a strong season so far and scored one of the two goals in Friday's (Nov. 9) game.

Point Blank

Nick Blankenburg had a memorable Saturday night when he recorded his first collegiate goal. The blue-liner joins classmate Jack Olmstead in scoring their first goals in the Maize and Blue.

The 'SNL' Line

Michigan's top line of Jake Slaker, Josh Norris, and Will Lockwood have accounted for 48 percent (14-of-29) of the team's goals thus far and have recorded a combined 29 points.

Mann Handling Opponents

Strauss Mann earned his third win this past Friday with 26 saves and increased his save percentage to .889 and improved his goals-against average to 2.83.

Suffocating the Competition

Michigan heads into the weekend holding opponents to an average of 24.56 shots per game, the lowest average in the Big Ten and the 10th lowest in the country. On the defensive side, Michigan is peppering opponents with an average of 35.11 shots per game, the third-highest mark in the country. That combination has led to U-M outshooting its opponents by 95 shots this year, the fourth highest margin in the country.

Sharing the Wealth

Michigan continues to show its scoring depth this season as 12 different Wolverines have accounted for the team's 29 total goals heading into the weekend.

Up Ahead

Friday, Nov. 23 -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 24 -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.