UNIVERSITY PARK — A night after one of their worst showings of the season, Penn State delivered one of its best. The No. 5 Nittany Lions were run out of their own building on Friday in a 7–1 loss, but Saturday’s rematch looked like a different team entirely. Behind freshman goaltender Josh Fleming’s standout performance and a renewed defensive commitment, Penn State handed No. 2 Michigan a 4–2 loss in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,584 at Pegula Ice Arena.
The split moves Penn State to 10–4 on the year and 3–3 in Big Ten play.
Friday’s meeting was defined by turnovers, breakdowns, and a lack of pushback. Michigan punished every mistake, scoring three first-period goals and never letting Penn State back into the game. After the fourth goal, Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky said the group simply didn’t respond.
“I still thought we were playing well early, but after the fourth goal I thought we lost a lot of our fight,” Gadowsky said. “That was disappointing to see. There were a couple bright spots, but we need a whole lot more of that.”
The power play struggled again, giving up a shorthanded goal and several odd-man rushes. The Lions went 0-for-3 on the man advantage and allowed Michigan to dictate special teams play.
“We’re relying on skill too much,” Gadowsky said. “I don’t care how skilled you are, that’s dangerous hockey. I don’t think we give enough of ourselves to the team away from the puck. We’re waiting for touches instead of working for them.”
Michigan piled on late, scoring several goals off turnovers and extended zone time. Gadowsky didn’t address the team afterward, saying he didn’t want to speak emotionally.
“If I went in there, it would’ve been all reaction,” he said. “I want to be really sure the next time we communicate. We need direction right now.”
GAME 2: A Complete Turnaround
Saturday felt like a reset before the puck even dropped. The Barn was packed despite a football game happening at the same time, and Penn State fed off the crowd’s energy from the opening faceoff.
“That’s a great team win,” Gadowsky said. “The good vibes started as soon as we walked out. We lost last night, there’s a football game on, it’s cold, and the crowd was just jammed. They were unbelievable.”
Penn State played a disciplined, structured first period, outshooting Michigan, and pushing the pace physically. Freshman goalie Josh Fleming, looked calm immediately and never wavered.
“He was awesome,” Gadowsky said. “He was extremely calm in some very frantic situations. That helps not only him, but the whole team in front of him.”
The game turned in the second period. After a conservative first half of the frame, Shea Van Olm fired a shot that created a rebound for freshman forward Luke Misa, who buried it to make it 1–0 Penn State. Minutes later, recently-reinserted defenseman Nick Fascia scored his first career goal off a breakout started by Matt DiMarsico and Charlie Cerrato, giving Penn State a 2–0 lead and igniting the building.
For Fascia, who was scratched the night before, it was a special moment.
“Every time I step on the ice I just want to help the team win,” he said. “Getting that goal felt really good. And the way the guys reacted…that meant a lot.”
The third period was as close to true Big Ten playoff hockey as it gets. Penn State extended the lead on a goal from Reese Laubach, who finished a sharp feed from Dane Dowiak after Michigan hit the crossbar at the other end. Michigan stormed back with two goals — one from Will Horcoff and another from Jayden Perron — cutting the lead to 3–2 with under four minutes left.
But Penn State never panicked.
“I just told the guys to stick to our identity,” Laubach said. “Don’t pack it in, don’t sit back and let them play. Keep battling, keep the third guy high, play our game.”
Michigan pulled its goalie late, but Gavin McKenna and Carter Schade outworked the Wolverines on a puck race, setting up Nicholas Chin-DeGraves’ empty-netter with six seconds left.
Penn State had completed the response it needed.
SPECIAL TEAMS AND STRUCTURE — NIGHT AND DAY
One of the biggest differences between Friday and Saturday was discipline. Penn State took fewer penalties, avoided the dangerous mistakes that cost them the night before, and tightened its defensive-zone structure.
“Our commitment away from the puck was night and day,” Gadowsky said. “We were much tougher to play against, we checked better, we were better positionally. That’s Penn State hockey.”
The penalty kill shined with a massive five-on-three stop in the second period, a stretch of play that shifted momentum and brought Pegula to its feet.
“That was a great team kill,” Gadowsky said. “Michigan’s power play is elite. You don’t kill that without great goaltending and great commitment from everyone.”
Laubach echoed that message.
“It just showed our character,” he said. “We got punched in the mouth last night. To respond like that today shows what this team is.”
LOCKER ROOM LEADERSHIP — AND A PLAYERS-ONLY MEETING
The team’s turnaround also came from inside the room. Laubach revealed that the players had a meeting after Friday’s loss, not run by coaches, but by the leadership group.
“It was man to man,” he said. “We got kicked in the mouth twice, and one of those was at home. That’s embarrassing. Dane (Dowiak) talked, guys spoke up, and he said exactly what needed to be said.”
Laubach said Dowiak’s message carried weight.
“When he talks, everyone listens,” he said. “He’s vocal, but he backs it up every shift. He competes his butt off. It’s easy to follow him.”
MCKENNA’S RESPONSE STOOD OUT AFTER A TOUGH FRIDAY
One of the biggest turnarounds from night to night came from freshman star Gavin McKenna. After finishing Friday at a minus-4 and struggling to generate offense, McKenna looked like a different player on Saturday. He created transition chances and played with the physical edge Penn State needed against the No. 2 team in the country. Michigan targeted him every shift, but he handled it well and made two key plays late. After getting hit late after the play, he responded by drilling the same Michigan player later in the shift, and then beating out an icing in the final minute that he assisted to the empty-net goal. All his effort didn’t show up on the score sheet, but it set the tone for the entire lineup. McKenna finished the weekend with one assist.
A PROGRAM WIN — AND A FOUNDATION TO BUILD ON
Gadowsky called Saturday “one of the great program wins,” not just because of the opponent, but because of the way Penn State played.
“This felt like us playing for each other again,” he said. “That’s what mattered most. Win or lose, it was the feeling that we were Penn State again.”
He stopped short of calling it a turning point but admitted it can be one.
“You never know,” he said. “But after a game like last night, every guy in that room deserved this win. If we learn from it and build on it, it absolutely can be something we grow from.”
Laubach put it simply:
“This shouldn’t be an anomaly. This is who we are.”
Penn State will face Minnesota next weekend who just had a series split with LIU.
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