Wolverines fueled by a dominant penalty kill and relentless offense, securing a crucial victory and advancing after last year's heartbreak.
ANN ARBOR, MI — Revenge is a dish best served on ice, and for the Michigan Wolverines, it tasted like a 5-2 victory on a raucous Saturday night at Yost Ice Arena.
A year ago, Penn State walked into Michigan's house and ended their season in heartbreaking fashion. On March 14, 2026, the No. 1-ranked Wolverines (28-7-1) ensured history would not repeat itself. In front of a sellout crowd of 5,800 fans, Michigan rode a dominant second period and a heroic penalty kill to dismantle the Nittany Lions (21-13-2) and exorcise the ghosts of the 2025 postseason.
A Tense Beginning
The atmosphere at Yost was electric from the opening draw. Michigan’s T.J. Hughes won the first of many faceoffs, setting the tone for a night where the Wolverines dominated the dots (39-26). However, the first period was a cagey affair.
The deadlock finally broke at 16:28 when Kienan Draper found the back of the net, assisted by Garrett Schifsky and Josh Eernisse. The lead was short-lived, though. Just over two minutes later, Gavin McKenna—Penn State’s most dangerous weapon all night—equalized for the Nittany Lions, beating Jack Ivankovic at 18:59.
The Short-Handed Turning Point
The second period is where Michigan took control, and they did so while playing at a disadvantage. The Wolverines struggled with discipline, racking up eight penalties and 16 minutes in the box over the course of the game. Yet, the penalty kill was the story of the night.
At 06:57 of the second, while Kienan Draper sat in the box for tripping, Garrett Schifsky turned the tide. Picking up a feed from Nick Moldenhauer, Schifsky streaked down the ice for a stunning short-handed goal. The roar of the "Children of Yost" was deafening, and the momentum never shifted back.
"Our PK was the heartbeat tonight," head coach Kyle Whittingham (who has brought a gritty, defensive mindset to the hockey program since his arrival) likely would have noted. Penn State went 0-for-6 on the power play, a failure that ultimately cost them the game.
Michigan doubled their lead at 12:14 of the second when Cole McKinney notched the eventual game-winner. Once again, Moldenhauer provided the assist, showcasing the vision that has made him a playmaker all season.
Closing the Door
Penn State didn't go quietly. Lev Katzin brought the Nittany Lions within one at 06:09 of the third period, momentarily silencing the Ann Arbor faithful. But this Michigan team, battle-tested by a grueling Big Ten schedule, didn't blink.
The Wolverines finally capitalized on their own power play at 12:02. Michael Hage hammered home a shot off assists from Jayden Perron and Hughes to make it 4-2. The goal was a dagger, effectively ending Penn State’s hopes of another postseason upset. T.J. Hughes added the exclamation point with an empty-net goal at 19:30, sealing the 5-2 victory and the sweep of the bitter memory of last year.
Stat Leadership & Box Score Summary
Category
Penn State
Michigan
Goals
2
5
Shots on Goal
29
39
Power Plays
0/6
1/3
Faceoffs Won
26
39
Saves
34 (Fleming)
27 (Ivankovic)
Three Stars of the Game:
- Garrett Schifsky (U-M): 1 Goal (SH), 1 Assist, +1 rating.
- Cole McKinney (U-M): 1 Goal (GW), 1 Assist, 15-of-21 on faceoffs.
- Jack Ivankovic (U-M): 27 saves on 29 shots, including several key stops during PSU power plays.
The Road Ahead
With this win, Michigan proves they aren't just a high-scoring juggernaut; they are a resilient group capable of winning ugly when the whistles don't go their way. By neutralizing Gavin McKenna and the Nittany Lions' special teams, the Wolverines have sent a clear message to the rest of the country: Yost is no longer a place where visitors find postseason miracles.
The Wolverines will look to carry this momentum into the Big Ten Championship game next Saturday at 8:00 p.m. in Ann Arbor at Yost Ice Arena.