Penn State needs a win. Finding one at Yost Ice Arena will require considerably more than another productive night on the power play.
The Nittany Lions visit No. 2 Michigan on Friday and Saturday, facing the nation’s highest-scoring offense after dropping both games against Notre Dame. Penn State scored three power-play goals during that series but still left the weekend searching for its first Big Ten victory.
Michigan presents a much different assignment. The Wolverines have lost once through nine games, average more than five goals per outing and enter the series rested following a bye week.
For Penn State, the challenge starts with keeping Michigan from turning defensive mistakes into stretches that decide the game.
SERIES INFO
When: Friday, November 13, 7 PM | Saturday, November 14, 7 PM (Eastern)
Where: Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Records: Penn State (2-7-1, 0-3-1 Big Ten) | Michigan (8-1-0, 1-1-0 Big Ten)
Streaming: B1G+
Audio Streaming: LionVision
All-Time Series: Michigan leads 34-21-2
Last Meeting: Michigan defeated Penn State 5-2 in the 2026 Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
MICHIGAN NOTES
Michigan’s offense gives opponents plenty to account for before the puck drops.
The Wolverines have scored 46 goals in nine games, averaging a nation-leading 5.11. Their average scoring margin of 2.56 goals also leads the country, reflecting how regularly they have created separation.
Michael Hage drives much of that production. His 20 points lead the nation, including 16 assists, and he collected six points during Michigan’s conference-opening split at Ohio State. Five came in one game.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Jayden Perron gives those possessions a dangerous finishing option. The senior earned national player of the month honors for October after scoring 10 goals and adding six assists in eight games. Hage and Perron are the only players nationally averaging more than two points per game.
Penn State cannot afford to give that combination repeated chances around its net. Michigan has enough scoring to punish a missed assignment without needing much help from a rebound or an unsuccessful clearing attempt.
There is stability behind that offense, too. Sophomore goaltender Jake Ivankovic owns all eight Michigan victories, carrying a 2.33 goals-against average and .921 save percentage.
Ohio State did show the Wolverines can be challenged, handing them their first loss before Michigan recovered with an overtime victory. Penn State will need to sustain that kind of resistance in a building where it is 7-18-1 all time.
PENN STATE NOTES
Penn State’s special teams offer a reason to believe it can make this competitive.
The power play went 3-for-6 against Notre Dame, improving to 25% for the season. The Nittany Lions have scored with the man advantage in six of their past eight games.
Their penalty kill leads the Big Ten at 83.8%, including 11 successful kills in 12 conference opportunities. Those units can help Penn State at Yost, but the Notre Dame results underscored how much still has to improve around them.
Jackson Smith continues to supply offense from the blue line. His 13 points share the team lead, while his 10 assists lead the nation’s defensemen. He has produced points in eight of 10 games and enters with a three-game scoring streak in conference play.
Justin Poirier also has 13 points, with five goals and eight assists. The Maine transfer has registered a point in nine games and carries a career-long seven-game point streak into Ann Arbor.
Reese Laubach brings a particularly useful history against Michigan: 11 goals and 19 points in 14 meetings. Penn State could use another contribution from the senior against an opponent that took eight of 12 regular-season conference points last year.
Freshman Shea Busch scored his first two goals against Notre Dame, adding another potential source of offense.
There are enough individual contributions to give Penn State a chance. The next step is putting them together across three periods. Against Michigan, a good start will only get the Nittany Lions so far.
