Michigan and Penn State battle for Big Ten supremacy. A win propels one to the top, while the other fights for contention.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — There will be no love lost at Yost Ice Arena this Saturday at 5:00 p.m. as the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines host the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions in a high-stakes rematch that could reshape the Big Ten Hockey standings. Following a Friday night thriller that saw Michigan escape with an extra point via a 5–4 shootout victory, Saturday's finale represents a "can’t-lose" scenario for two programs with eyes on the regular-season crown.
Standing on a Razor’s Edge
The implications for the conference race are massive. Entering this weekend, Michigan sat just one point behind arch-rival Michigan State for the top spot in the Big Ten. With the Spartans idle this weekend, the Wolverines have a golden opportunity to leapfrog into first place and regain the No. 1 national ranking they surrendered just days ago.
Team
Games Played
Points
Michigan State
18
39
Michigan
19
40 (Projected after Fri. SO win)
Penn State
17
33 (Projected after Fri. SO loss)
Table reflects updated points following Michigan's shootout win on Friday, Feb 13.
For Penn State, the math is equally urgent. Despite sitting in third place, the Nittany Lions have games in hand. A regulation win on Saturday would keep them within striking distance of the leaders, while a loss could effectively end their hopes of a regular-season title, leaving them to fight for home-ice advantage in the Big Ten Tournament.
Redemption and Resilience
Saturday’s matchup is a direct response to Friday’s chaotic opener. In that game, Penn State showed incredible resilience, clawing back with only nine healthy forwards to force overtime. Freshman Reese Laubach ignited the Nittany Lions early, but Michigan’s star power ultimately proved too much.
The Wolverines will lean heavily on T.J. Hughes, who ranks second in the nation in points per game (1.43), and the explosive Will Horcoff, who leads the team with 20 goals this season. Defensively, Michigan looks to freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic, who slammed the door in Friday’s shootout to secure the win.
What to Watch For
- The Yost Factor: Michigan holds a 16–7–0 all-time mark at home against Penn State, though the Nittany Lions have won four of their last six trips to Ann Arbor.
- Special Teams: With players like Michael Hage and Aiden Fink (PSU) seeing heavy minutes, the power play could be the deciding factor in a series that has historically been high-scoring.
- Standings Pressure: If Michigan completes the "broom" job with a win on Saturday, they will officially take over first place in the Big Ten with only a few series remaining.
Game Prediction
Based on the momentum from Friday’s shootout thriller, Saturday’s rematch at Yost Ice Arena is shaping up to be a classic "track meet" on ice. I predict Michigan will edge out Penn State with a 5-3 victory, officially claiming the top spot in the Big Ten standings.
The Wolverines’ depth is simply too much to ignore. With T.J. Hughes and Will Horcoff playing at an elite level, Michigan has the firepower to exploit a Penn State defensive unit that looked fatigued during the closing minutes of Friday's overtime. Expect Michigan to jump out to an early two-goal lead, fueled by the raucous "Children of Yost" student section.
However, the Nittany Lions won’t go quietly. Guy Gadowsky’s squad is the most resilient in the conference, and Aiden Fink is due for a multi-point night. Penn State will likely dominate the shot count—as they often do—but freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic has shown he can handle the volume. Michigan’s superior special teams will be the difference-maker; a late power-play goal should seal the win and three crucial points, leaving the Wolverines in the driver's seat for the Big Ten regular-season title.
Fans can catch the 5:00 p.m. puck drop live on the Big Ten Network or listen via the Michigan Sports Network.