Big Ten Play to Resume as Michigan Hosts Penn State This Weekend

Friday, January 14

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

Penn State

Luke Hughes (Michigan Photography)

Big Ten Play to Resume as Michigan Hosts Penn State This Weekend

1/13/2022 10:28:00 AM | Ice Hockey

By: Kristy McNeil

» Michigan has won 10 of 13 games against Penn State at Yost Ice Arena.
» Kent Johnson is the nation's leader in assists with 23 helpers.
» Brendan Brisson and Erik Portillo earned Big Ten Stars of the Week after a sweep of UMass last weekend.

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

PROMOTIONS
• Jan 14: Team Impact Night, Wolverine Kids Club Game, Ice Skate Shoelace Giveaway (first 500 kids)
• Jan 15: Trading Card Giveaway (Set #2)
• Full Promotions Schedule

• Social Media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Note: Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the University of Michigan has instituted a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test protocol for indoor athletic events. Face masks continue to be required and must be worn during all home indoor athletic events. [ U-M Vaccination Policy ]

The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan of Michigan ice hockey team (16-6-1, 7-5-0 Big Ten) will restart Big Ten play when it plays host to Penn State (12-10-0, 3-9-0 Big Ten) on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 14-15) at Yost Ice Arena. Friday's (Jan. 14) game is scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start, and puck drop for Saturday's (Jan. 15) is set for 7 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+, and fans in the Detroit viewing area can watch on CW50.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is 16-6-1 after sweeping defending champion UMass last weekend.

• The Wolverines are ranked No. 4 in the latest USCHO poll and come in at No. 5 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings.

• Kent Johnson leads the nation with 23 assists; he also has scored five goals for a team-high 28 points. Classmate Brendan Brisson is the team's leading goal-scorer with 14 tallies in addition to 13 assists (27 points). On their tails is Matty Beniers with 26 points (12 goals, 14 assists) while defenseman Owen Power (3G, 20A), the nation's highest-scoring blueliner, has 23 points. Freshman defenseman Luke Hughes also has been a standout; his 19 points (7G, 12A) (19 points) are tied with Thomas Bordeleau (6G, 13A) for fifth most.

• Captain Nick Blankenburg leads U-M in shot blocks with 27, followed by Power (24).

• Sophomore Erik Portillo has started every game in net for the Wolverines, assembling a 16-6-1 record with two shutouts, a .920 save percentage, and a 2.29 goals-against average.

Series History

Michigan holds a 20-14-1 record all-time against Penn State and has won the last two meetings, 5-1 and 6-2, in State College in November. The Wolverines have won 10 of the 13 meetings played at Yost. Kent Johnson has the most points per game against the Nittany Lions with seven in four games. Erik Portillo is 2-0 with a .943 save percentage against PSU.

Scouting the Nittany Lions

• Penn State comes to town after a tough weekend in South Bend, Ind., sitting in seventh place in the Big Ten standings, but the team sports a 12-10 record and received votes in the USCHO poll.

• Forwards Kevin Wall (13G, 7A) and Connor MacEachern (11G, 9A) lead PSU with 20 points apiece, while Colorado College transfer Ben Copeland has 17 points (4G, 13A) to round out the top three. Freshman Ryan Kirwan has chipped in five goals and nine assists for 14 points.

• On the blue line, Jimmy Dowd Jr. (3G, 11A) and Clayton Phillips (5G, 5A) pace the team offensively while veteran Paul DeNaples also plays big minutes for the Nittany Lions.

• Senior goalie Oskar Autio has started the vast majority of games for Penn State, accruing a 2.89 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in 17 games, with one shutout.

Up Next

Friday, Jan. 21 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 8 p.m. CST
Saturday, Jan. 22 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 6:30 p.m. CST