Penn State’s Win Streak Snapped by Physical Michigan State Squad in Heated 6-3 Loss
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - What was billed as a Big Ten heavyweight bout between Penn State and Michigan State delivered on the physicality - and then some. But for the Nittany Lions, the bruising battle at Pegula Ice Arena ended in frustration and a 6-3 defeat that snapped their seven-game winning streak.
From the opening puck drop, this one had an edge. Both teams came out cautiously, trading icings and struggling to generate sustained offensive pressure.
That tentative rhythm broke when Michigan State flipped the ice on a Penn State possession. Aiden Fink was taken down deep in the Spartan zone, and Michigan State wasted no time countering.
Defenseman Maxim Strbak led the charge, finding Anthony Romani on an odd-man rush. Romani slipped the puck past Josh Fleming to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
Things escalated quickly from there.
Midway through the first, emotions boiled over when Michigan State’s Shane Vansaghi and Penn State’s Nic Chin-DeGraves got into it. Vansaghi kept his cool - Chin-DeGraves did not.
The Nittany Lion forward was hit with two minors and a 10-minute misconduct, putting Penn State on an extended penalty kill. The Spartans made them pay.
Romani played set-up man this time, feeding Owen West for his second goal of the year to double the lead.
Penn State nearly clawed one back late in the period when Reese Laubach rang iron, but discipline issues continued to plague the Lions. Jackson Smith was called for his second interference penalty, and Michigan State capitalized again.
This time, it was Romani finishing off a slick transition play with Porter Martone and Cayden Lindstrom. The Nittany Lions challenged the no-call on Charlie Stramel’s contact with defenseman Jarod Crespo earlier in the sequence, but officials let it stand.
Just like that, it was 3-0.
The second period didn’t calm things down - it ignited the powder keg.
A heavy hit by Lindstrom on Fink sparked a full-on scrum near the Penn State bench. After a lengthy review, Lindstrom and Michigan State defenseman Colin Ralph were both handed major penalties and game misconducts. Penn State’s Gavin McKenna also received a five-minute major for cross-checking and was ejected.
Penn State finally got on the board during a power play after a Matt Lahey cross-check. Matt DiMarsico connected with Jackson Smith, who buried his eighth of the season to make it 3-1.
But the Lions couldn’t keep the momentum. Chin-DeGraves, already in penalty trouble earlier, was assessed a game misconduct following another altercation - ending a rough night for the forward.
Michigan State responded the way good teams do - by silencing the crowd. Martone scored unassisted from in close, stretching the lead back to three and taking the wind out of the Nittany Lions’ sails.
Still, Penn State didn’t go quietly.
The third period opened with Michigan State on the power play after captain Dane Dowiak was penalized for tossing his stick. Smith nearly brought the Lions closer with another shot off the post - his second of the game. Moments later, Laubach finally cashed in, scoring his sixth of the season off a feed from Ben Schoen and DiMarsico.
Suddenly, the comeback was on. Smith returned the favor, setting up DiMarsico for his 15th goal of the year, and the Lions were within one.
With over two minutes left, head coach Guy Gadowsky pulled Fleming for the extra attacker. But Penn State couldn’t establish the zone time they needed.
Michigan State held firm, and when the Lions pressed, the Spartans pounced - twice. Two empty-net goals in the final minutes iced the game and sealed the 6-3 win.
The loss stings for a Penn State team that had been rolling, but they’ll get a shot at redemption in a high-profile setting. The two teams meet again Saturday in an outdoor showdown at Beaver Stadium, with puck drop set for 1 p.m. Expect more fireworks - and, if this one was any indication, a whole lot of grit.