Last weekend’s top-five matchup between Penn State and Michigan State was the program’s first-ever outdoor game at Beaver Stadium. It also marked No. 6 Penn State’s first loss since Jan. 3, as No. 1 Michigan State snapped its seven-game winning streak with a series sweep.
The Nittany Lions’ tough schedule doesn’t stop there. Guy Gadowsky’s squad has another top-ranked matchup on tap, this one in Ann Arbor against No. 2 Michigan.
Nearly three months ago, the Wolverines dominated Penn State, 7-1, in Game 1 at Pegula Ice Arena. But the blue and white fought back to earn a gritty 4-2 win the next night.
All tied at 1-1 in the season series, the sides will meet for two more at Yost Ice Arena, with Game 1 scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday on Big Ten Plus. Big Ten Network will broadcast Game 2, which starts at 5 p.m. Saturday.
“We want our payback. We are confident we’re the best in the country,” Dane Dowiak said. “You’re gonna lose games and win games, and you’ve got to take lessons from both, and I think we did that after the Michigan series … we’ve got to be our best if we want to go into Yost and get out of there with two wins.”
McKenna’s availability
Gavin McKenna, Penn State’s star forward who was recently charged with felony assault before the charges were later dropped, practiced with the team Tuesday and will play this weekend against Michigan, Gadowsky said Wednesday.
“Gavin will participate in all, and continue to participate in all athletically related activities. But regarding that, I also hope you understand it’s an ongoing legal thing, so (it’s) inappropriate for me to comment (further) on that.”
Penn State Athletics last week released a statement regarding McKenna’s charges. The freshman’s court date, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was rescheduled to March 11.
Forward Gavin McKenna (72) warms up on the rink during the Penn State men’s ice hockey game against Michigan State in West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in University Park, Pa. The Spartans beat the Nittany Lions 5-4.
Megan Miller
Scouting Michigan
The Wolverines are 23-5 after they, too, had their seven-game winning streak snapped by Michigan State last weekend.
Michigan sports the Big Ten’s most prolific offense, which scores nearly five goals per game and leads the conference with 31 power-play tallies.
T.J. Hughes, who recorded three points on nine shots against Penn State in November, leads that offense with a Big-Ten best 40 points. His 27 assists also pace the conference, with teammate Michael Hage’s 25 helpers a close second.
“(Hughes) is very cerebral. He has really good vision on the ice, but his skills are excellent as well,” Gadowsky said. “He’s a really good guy. He’s a talented player who has a nose for the net. I enjoyed having him on our bench. I don’t like it so much when he’s on the other bench. He’s a very good player.”
Jack Ivankovic, Michigan’s starting goaltender, saved 49 of the 53 shots he faced in his two starts against Penn State this season. Ivankovic sports a 17-5 record and a 2.01 goals-against average, both of which rank second in the Big Ten.
Forward Alex Servagno (8) skates toward the goalie during the Penn State men’s hockey game against Michigan State in Pegula Ice Arena on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Spartans 3-2 in a shootout.
Noah Aberegg
Injuries
Gadowsky announced that forward Alex Servagno, who left with an injury in Penn State’s 6-3 loss to Michigan State on Jan. 30, underwent surgery on Wednesday morning and will miss “at least the remainder of the regular season.”
Gadowsky said Casey Aman, a traditional defenseman who filled in for Servagno on Penn State’s fourth forward line in Game 2 against Michigan State, will continue in that role moving forward.
Charlie Cerrato, who led Penn State in points before suffering an injury on Jan. 9 against Minnesota, remains out. Braeden Ford is still sidelined with an injury that Gadowsky said will cause him to miss “a significant amount of time.”
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Guy Gadowsky addressed the media on Wednesday ahead of Penn State’s series against the Michi…
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