No. 11/10 Penn State (22-15-1) is one win away from the Frozen Four.
To get there, it has to beat a familiar for in No. 2 Michigan.
Here are five things to know.
A PLACE PENN STATE’S NEVER BEEN
Penn State hockey has done a lot of great things in during ts decade-plus in the NCAA.
But it hasn’t been to the Frozen Four.
That would change with a win over Michigan.
BIG TEN DOMINANCE
Every March, the Big Ten gets ripped for its basketball teams not performing as well as advertised in the NCAA Tournament.
The same was true this year, with no Big Ten teams going to the Elite Eight and only one (Michigan State) advancing to the Sweet 16 out of nine participants.
That isn’t the case in hockey’s NCAA Tournament.
Of the 16 teams that made it to “The Dance,” four came from the Big Ten— Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State and Penn State— and all four are still alive.
Most impressive of all is that the Big Ten teams outscored their opponents a combined 36-4.
Thirty-six. To four.
Penn State did its part by pounding Michigan Tech 8-0 Friday in Allentown, which was the largest shutout margin of victory in NCAA Tournament history. Michigan would have broken Penn State’s record, but allowed a late goal in its 11-1 win over Colgate Friday.
THE VICTORS
Penn State probably isn’t going to beat Michigan 8-0, and Michigan probably isn’t going to beat Penn State 11-1.
Michigan is the No. 3 team in the country for a reason.
The team is 25-11-3, with 16 of those wins coming against squads that were ranked at the time.
Michigan is lead by freshman Adam Fantilli, who leads the team with 28 goals and is second with 35 assists for a team-leading 63 points despite missing five games. Fantilli is projected to be a top-five NHL Draft pick. Defenseman Luke Hughes, younger brother of New Jersey Devils star and former No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes, leads the team with 37 assists and has added 10 goals for 47 points, which is second on the team. Gavin Bradley (12 goals, 26 assists) is also projected to go in the first round.
The bottom line is, Michigan is really good.
WAY BACK IN NOVEMBER…
Penn State has a chance for a landmark win, and it wouldn’t be the first landmark win the team’s gotten over Michigan this season.
On Nov. 4, Penn State beat No. 1 Michigan, 3-0,on a Friday night in Pegula Ice Arena for its first win over a No. 1 team in school history.
Could lightning strike twice?
HOW TO WATCH
For those who aren’t making the trip to Allentown, here’s how to watch and listen to the game.
Face off: 6:30
Channel: ESPN2
Livestream: fuboTV
