SERIES STORYLINES
- Penn State is facing Michigan for the 31st time as the Wolverines maintain a 16-13-0 advantage in the all-time series. The two teams split games earlier this season in Ann Arbor and the Nittany Lions own a 7-4-1 all-time record vs. Michigan at Pegula Ice Arena.
- Penn State has dropped its goals against average by more than a full goal per game from last season to 2.27, ranking third in the Big Ten and 15th nationally.
- Michigan has won five of its last seven games, most recently a two-game sweep at Notre Dame. Sophomore goalie Strauss Mann has a .935 save percentage, and three shutouts, both second-best in the Big Ten.
- At the midpoint of the conference schedule, Penn State leads the Big Ten with an 8-4-0 record and 24 points, two points ahead of Michigan State and Ohio State.
STAT BREAKDOWN
PENN STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
9 ALEX LIMOGES (JR.)
FORWARD
- Limoges is the Nittany Lions' co-leader in goals scored with eight, along with 13 assists.
- He scored a goal in last week's 6-2 win at Robert Morris.
- Set the program single-season record for points and goals with 50 and 23, respectively in 2018-19.
14 NATE SUCESE (SR.)
FORWARD
- Sucese leads the Nittany Lions with eight goals and 19 assists for a team-best 27 points.
- Against Robert Morris, Sucese tallied three assists to become Penn State's all-time points leader with 129. His 58 goals and 71 assists rank him first and tied for second, respectively.
- Played two seasons with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints, registering 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points.
31 PEYTON JONES (SR.)
GOALIE
- Jones had 42 saves and allowed just two goals in Penn State's victory at Robert Morris last weekend.
- Started 32 games in 2018-19 while compiling an 18-12-2 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.32 goals against average.
- He was a member of the USHL's Lincoln Starts from 2014-16.
HEAD COACH GUY GADOWSKY
- Gadowsky is in his eighth season at Penn State and 20th overall, boasting a 141-116-19 record with the Nittany Lions.
- He has led Penn State to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2017 Big Ten Tournament title. The 2016-17 team also achieved the program's first No. 1 national ranking in January and finished the season as the highest scoring team in the country, averaging 4.10 goals per game.
- Prior to his tenure in Happy Valley, Gadowsky was head coach at Princeton for seven seasons. He led the Tigers to two NCAA Tournament berths and coached 20 players who would go on to sign professional contracts.
- Gadowsky also previously served five seasons as head coach at Alaska, and three as head coach and director of operations for the WCHL's Fresno Falcons.
PEGULA ICE ARENA
- Capacity: 5,782
- Opened: September 9, 2013
- Home to the Nittany Lions' men's and women's hockey programs, as well as a 5,000-square foot weight room, hydrotherapy training room, steam room, team lounge and locker room area.
- Fans experience some of the best amenities in college hockey at Pegula, which boasts an interactive history of Penn State Hockey, concession stands, suites, loge boxes and club seats.
- The Centre County community is able to take advantage of the community rink, which is open nearly 360 days a year.
Credits:
Mark Selders, Craig Houtz