Michigan
15-11-3, 8-9-2
Penn State
12-14-3, 4-12-3
U-M Rides Hot Start to B1G Win at Penn State
2/16/2024 10:56:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Rutger McGroarty scored twice in the first period, including an opening-minute goal.
» Gavin Brindley notched an ENG and added two assists for a three-point performance.
» T.J. Hughes secured a pair of assists while winning 9-of-13 faceoffs.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Sophomore forward Rutger McGroarty sparked a hot start for the 14th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team en route to a two-goal game on Friday night (Feb. 16), as the team scored on its first two shots of the night to defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions, 5-3, inside Pegula Ice Arena.
McGroarty made the team's first shot count when he forced a puck across the goal line 36 seconds into play to give Michigan an early lead. His fellow alternate captain and classmate Gavin Brindley had funneled the puck toward the crease and it ended up coming to rest in the slot immediately in front of the PSU netminder. McGroarty finished off the play for Michigan's quickest game-opening goal of the season. Blueliner Seamus Casey picked up the secondary helper on McGroarty's tally.
The early goal marked the fourth time this season that Michigan has scored in the first minute, and the 23rd time in 29 games that the Wolverines opened the scoring.
Twenty-five seconds later, freshman Garrett Schifsky won an offensive-zone faceoff cleanly through his legs on the left side of the ice. With the puck rolling toward the top of the circle, Josh Eernisse skated in from the left wing and zipped a wrist shot to the top shelf that put U-M up 2-0 just 1:01 into the contest.Â
Michigan's top-ranked power-play unit took the ice at 2:58 after Penn State (12-14-3, 4-12-3) was whistled for too many skaters on the ice. The skaters threatened, but ultimately failed to stack another goal onto the early lead before the infraction was killed off and play returned to even-strength.
The Nittany Lions notched their first two shots on goal a bit after the seven-minute mark with back-to-back chances that Jake Barczewski turned aside. At the other end of the rink, Ethan Edwards rang a shot off the post as U-M searched for a third goal to extend its lead.
Michigan's second power-play chance kicked off with 3:04 left in the period when a Nittany Lion was called for cross-checking near the half wall. Just over halfway through the advantage, the Wolverines extended their lead to three when McGroarty netted his second goal of the night at 18:14 off a backdoor look from the right circle. T.J. Hughes and Brindley assisted on McGroarty's second goal of the frame.
Penn State received a power play of its own at 18:54 when U-M freshman Tanner Rowe was called for slashing. The home team developed a dangerous look with 20 seconds left in the period, but they failed to register a goal before the buzzer sounded to end the first period.
After 20 minutes of play, Michigan carried a 3-0 lead into the visitor's dressing room. U-M led the game in shots on goal (9-6) but PSU held a narrow edge in faceoffs (10-9) and carried 54 seconds of power-play time into the break to finish out with fresh ice in the second frame.
Graduate defenseman Marshall Warren was sent to the box at 3:05 for cleaning up the crease after the whistle and sending a PSU skater tumbling for poking at Barczewski's glove on the ice.
On the kill, Eernisse broke out for a shorthanded chance but he was denied by the goalie's pad. Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Michigan's penalty killers stayed aggressive and Dylan Duke took advantage by seizing the puck in the neutral zone and exploding down the ice for a second shorthanded breakaway in a row. The junior was able to cash in by faking to the forehand before tucking a backhand shot through the five-hole to extend Michigan's lead, 4-0.
The marker, Duke's 46th all-time as a Wolverine, was his first-career shorthanded goal in his 111th game.
PSU tallied its first goal at 13:23 remaining in the second period to make it 4-1 -- and then 4-2 at 3:47 of the third by putting a shot on goal from the half wall that was banged across the goal line.
With less than four minutes left in regulation, Penn State trimmed the deficit in transition to make it 4-3.
The Nittany Lions pulled the netminder in favor of the extra skater but Michigan's pressure in the zone paid off as Brindley scored on the empty net with an assist going to Hughes with 48 seconds remaining.
Barczewski earned the win in goal for Michigan, stopping 25 shots.
The Big Ten foes will finish off their regular-season series with the team's 46th all-time meeting on Saturday (Feb. 17). Puck drop at Pegula Ice Arena is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
