New York, NY-This past weekend, in what is deemed the “World’s Most Famous Arena,” Madison Square Garden hosted a Super Saturday Big Ten Showdown as the Penn State Nittany Lions faced off against the sixth ranked Michigan Wolverines in a rivalry renewed on the ice.
As the players took the ice and the cracking of the puck began, the Wolverines drew first blood as they took an early 1-0 lead by a goal scored by forward Alex Kile. The Lions would respond rather quickly as forward David Goodwin scored, causing the crowd of 35,000 plus to erupt.
In the second period, the Wolverines lit up the score board. Just 15 seconds in the period, JT Compher scored on a short handed goal, and it was surely not the start the Lions wanted to have after keeping pace with the Wolverines in the first period.
Penn State definitely showed the heart of lions as Andrew Sturtz found the back of the net on the power play goal. Penn State fans and alumni roared with excitement as folks started to believe this team could pull off the upset.
If Penn State did not yet feel the surge, they were about to get even more excited. Just a little more than three minutes after Sturtz found the net, his team mate Ricky DeRosa netted a goal for only his fifth of the season. All the momentum seemed to be swinging the way of the Nittany Lions, and at the end of the second period, Michigan was on the ropes after giving up back to back goals. Were the mighty Wolverines about to be stunned on front of a record crowd?
I’m not sure what adjustments were made during that second intermission, but the Wolverines showed out in the final period of play. The Wolverines netted four goals in the final period. Cristoval Nieves started the scoring party with his sixth goal of the season, and gave his Wolverines the jump start they needed.
Soon there after, on an assist from Tony Calderone, Justin Selman added to the lead. Everything seemed to be going in favor of Michigan, as the pendulum swung their way late in the game. The Lions of Penn State did not go down quietly though, as they managed to put up double digit shots on goal with 11. They would fail in the end to get the power play opportunity that helped them early on in the first period.
Michigan wasn’t finished scoring, as they felt the need to put the game out of reach. Junior forward Tyler Motte find the back of the net twice in the nine minutes of the game, the second on a late Michigan power play that would give his Wolverines a 6-3 victory in what turned out to be a great Big Ten battle at Madison Square Garden.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
