The Penn State Nittany Lions (11-7-3, 5-2-1 Big Ten) split a two-game home series against the Michigan State Spartans (7-11-2, 1-3-2 Big Ten) this weekend at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park.
Friday night’s game saw Penn State drop an overtime shootout 1-0, but the team managed to pick up a point in the Big Ten standings.
Michigan State opened the scoring in the first period with a goal by junior forward Ryan Keller with 3:49 remaining. Penn State was able to tie the score two minutes later after junior Eric Scheid took off on a breakaway scoring opportunity during a four-on-four penalty situation.
Spartan sophomore forward Villiam Haag gave Michigan State the lead with just 33 seconds left in the period.
The score remained 2-1 until the Lions fought their way back from the deficit in the third period, riding David Goodwin’s goal to force the overtime shootout against the Spartans.
Penn State outshot Michigan State 50-35, hitting the 50-shot mark for the fourth time this season.
Saturday night’s game saw the Lions avenge their loss from the night before, taking the game 5-2.
Penn State’s dominating top line scored four times; Casey Bailey scored twice while linemates Goodwin and Taylor Holstrom each added a point.
Bailey had the first goal of the evening, but Haag evened the score for the Spartans. Michigan State closed the first period with a goal from Michael Ferrantino, but the Spartans would not score again for the remainder of the evening.
Penn State would go on to score the next four goals as Nate Jensen sparked an offensive explosion for the Nittany Lions. Goodwin scored once in the second before Holstrom gave the Lions a 4-2 lead.
Bailey would finalize the score and bookend the game with a goal 2:32 into the period, rocketing the puck past Spartan goaltender Jake Hildebrand.
Penn State once again outshot Michigan State 40-30 in its winning effort.
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
