NCAA Series Recap: Michigan Wolverines Sweep Penn State

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Chris Lavallee | Last updated Feb 15, 2026 2:15 PM ET

The Michigan Wolverines and Penn State Nittany Lions faced off this weekend in a battle of top ten teams. Michigan entered at number two while Penn State came in at number six. Both games at Yosa Ice Arena. Friday’s game was at 6:30 PM and Saturday’s game at 5:00 PM EST.

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Friday’s Game

The Nittany Lions opened the scoring as Reese Laubach (San Jose Sharks) scored just 58 seconds in to make it 1-0. Michigan evened things up just over nine minutes into the game as Garrett Schifsky scored to make it 1-1. Just over two minutes later Penn State took the lead back as Jackson Smith (Columbus Blue Jackets) scored. Michigan would tie it back up with over five minutes left with T.J. Hughes scoring in the power play.

In the second period, Penn State took the lead back as Nic Chin-DeGraves scored to make it 3-2 Nittany Lions. Asher Barnett (Edmonton Oilers) would knot it back up as he scored for Michigan just over halfway through the period. In the third Hughes gave Michigan its first lead of the game with his goal coming just over ten minutes into the period. With the clock having just over three minutes in the game Penn State tied it back up as Smith scored again this time on the power play.

The game went to overtime, where neither team could find the back of the net, and then to a shootout. Penn State missed all three chances it had in the shootout while Michigan went one for three as Michael Hage (Montreal Canadiens) had the lone goal leading to Michigan taking the extra point. Jack Ivankovic got the start for Michigan stopping 34 of the 38 shots he faced. Josh Fleming, who got the net for Penn State, stopped 33 of the 37 shots he faced.

Saturday’s Game

The second game was much different as it was all Michigan early. Cole McKinney (San Jose Sharks) and Nick Moldenhauer (Toronto Maple Leafs) got things started for the Maize and Blue to make it 2-0 just under 11:30 minutes in. Penn State would get on the board as Laubach scored for the second night in a row. The middle period saw Jayden Perron (Carolina Hurricanes) score to give Michigan a 3-1 lead. It came via the power play.

Just over midway in the third period, Michigan’s leading goal scorer Will Horcoff (Pittsburgh Penguin) scored on a deflection to make it 4-1 Wolverines. Another power play goal for Michigan. Adam Valentini added to the lead as he scored to make it 5-1. Penn State started to claw back as Laubach scored his second of the game and his came on the power play. Luke Misa (Calgary Flames) also joined in as he scored to make it 5-3 Michigan. Moldenhauer would add an empty net goal to secure the win for Michigan 6-3.

Michigan goalie Jack Ivankovic got the start once again as he stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced. Kevin Reidler (Ottawa Senators) got the start for Penn State stopping 20 of the 25 shots he faced.