Penn State eliminated in Big Ten hockey tournament; quick recap

Reese Laubach was taken off for a goaltender interference penalty, and shortly after that, Nicholas Chin-DeGraves joined him for a roughing penalty. Michigan seized the moment to regain a two-goal lead with a power play goal by less than 10 seconds after going on a two-man advantage. Michigan is up 4-2 with under 8 minutes to play.

Penn State has cut the deficit in half with a goal by Lev Katzin, his second goal of the season. Penn State is hanging in there as we get closer to the midway point of the third period. Michigan still leads, 3-2, with 13 minutes remaining in the third.

The third period started with a 4-on-4 after Shea Van Olm started the period in the penalty box for roughing at the end of the second period. But Penn State went back on the power play once Will Horcof was called for an interference minor. Penn State has 11 shots and counting on 5 power plays so far tonight with nothing to show for it.

Once again, Penn State is going on the power play. T.J. Hughes was sent off for high-sticking. But the power play has not been very kind to Penn State so far tonight.

The Nittany Lions will take this power play into the third period with about a minute remaining on the man-advantage. Penn State has gained the upper hand in the shot count with a 23-21 advantage, but Michigan has been far more opportunistic with its scrambles in the Penn State zone. Penn State needs to dig pretty deep for a big comeback effort in the third period.

Coming off a neutral zone faceoff, Michigan’s pursuit of the puck overwhelmed the Penn State skaters. Cole McKenney raced in and went in uncontested on the Penn State net and snuck one by Fleming to add to the Michigan lead.

Michigan’s Will Horcoff is heading to the penalty box for a cross-checking penalty, but so is Penn State’s Nolan Collins. Collins is heading to the penalty box for a diving penalty. The two were caught behind the play, exchanging some swipes. The refs said enough is enough.

Michigan’s Malcom Spence is heading to the penalty box for a direct contact to the head shot. But Michigan again killed off the penalty.

The Nittany Lions were given another power play chance following a tripping penalty against Kienan Draper, but were unable to create much pressure on the Michigan zone. Instead, it was the Wolverines getting the goal with Shifsky getting his second goal of the game toward the end of the Penn State power play. A brilliant setup from Nick Moldenhauer in front of the Penn State net was capped with a rocket from Schifsky.

Penn State was awarded a power play opportunity at the start of the second period when Michigan’s Jayden Perron was sent off his a minor hooking penalty, his second of the game. But the Nittany Lions were unable to capitalize on the man-advantage as Michigan killed it off.

The first period ended with some fun action as both Michigan and Penn State put goals on the board, but Penn State probably can’t help but feel it should be going into the first intermission up 1-0. The Michigan goal is a moment Casey Aman would love to have back if possible, but Gavin McKenna has picked up his defensive teammate up with an equalizer late in the period.

Michigan has outshot the Nittany Lions, 10-7 and has the upper hand in faceoffs, 15-10. But Penn State is showing they will not be easy for the top-ranked team to get by.

And just like that, we are all tied back up at 1-1. Gavin McKenna scored his first career postseason goal shortly after the first Miciagn score of the game.

Right on cue, perhaps, the Michigan Wolverines have scored the first goal of the game with a bit of bad luck from the Penn State defense.

Penn State defenseman Casey Aman tried clearing the puck away from the net behind the goaltender, Josh Fleming. But Aman’s swipe of the puck with his glove went the wrong way and into the empty net, crediting the goal to Michigan’s Garret Schifskey.

The first period of this hockey game has been flying by, but no goals have been netted just yet. Just under five minutes to play in the period, Penn State is being outshot 8-5 by Michigan.