The Penn State Nittany Lions (15-9-4, 7-4-1-0 Big Ten) return home to Pegula Ice Arena on Friday (6:30 p.m.) and Saturday (5:00 p.m.) to face off against the fifteenth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-9-3, 7-2-3-0 Big Ten) in a pivotal series.
Penn State will try to rebound from its first sweep of the season that broke an eight-game winning streak with a double loss to Michigan State last weekend in East Lansing.
Goaltender PJ Musico has started eight of the last 12 games and has a .933 save percentage and 2.13 GAA. Initially a reserve player who did not see any action through the first sixteen games of the season, Musico has earned a starting role on the team.
The Nittany Lions’ top line of Casey Bailey, David Goodwin, and Taylor Holstrom has combined for 36 goals and 43 assists; they are an instrumental weapon for Penn State. With 20 goals, Bailey, a Hobey Baker Memorial Award nominee, is currently in the top-five goal scorers in the nation and is tied for fourth nationally with .71 goals per game.
Penn State must play without forward and alternate captain David Glen, who was suspended for one game following a butt-ending incident against a Michigan State player last weekend. He scored four goals and eight points through 19 games.
Minnesota relies on offensive power to propel them through the game. The Gophers fall sixth in the nation in scoring, racking up 3.57 goals per game, and boast the best powerplay percentage in the country, scoring 28.7 percent of the time.
For all of their offensive dominance, the Gophers’ defensive ability should not be ignored. Reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, goaltender Adam Wilcox, has started all 28 games for Minnesota and maintains a .905 save percentage, 2.50 GAA, and has collected four shutouts.
Minnesota currently sits in a tie with Michigan at the top of the Big Ten standings; Penn State falls right behind the Gophers in third-place.
Friday’s game will be broadcasted live on the Big Ten Network and on BTN2Go; Saturday’s game will be broadcasted on ESPNU and BTN2Go.
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
