In one three-minute stretch in the first period of Penn State's 3-2 win over Michigan Friday night, the Nittany Lions did what Michigan couldn't for the other 57 minutes of the game: find the back of the net three times.
Trailing 1-0 at the time, Penn State's opening goal was a power play effort by Max Gardiner. Michigan's defensive effort lapsed fatally as the Nittany Lions scored two more goals in quick succession on two man-advantage rushes, one a breakaway and the other a two-on-one sequence.
Michigan replied only one other time, a third period marker by defenseman Michael Downing. A first minute goal by Max Shuart had staked the Wolverines to an early one-goal lead before the Penn State's first period offensive outburst.
Penn State goaltender Eamon McAdam frustrated the Wolverines offense, turning aside 38 Michigan shots.
"I liked our team as the game wore on," said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. "I thought we got better and better. It was a game of missed chances. When you give them opportunities like we gave them, we've got to put the puck on the net. We missed the net on our best chances. We have to be better than that. We have to start better than that also. We turned the puck over on seemingly harmless turnovers, blue line turnovers, we got trapped, and now they have a two on one on the first and a breakaway on the second. We have to take care of the puck and have to win those battles."
Michigan gets a return match in quick order to try to right the disappointment of losing the Big Ten conference opener on home ice.
"We need to bear down pucks better and be smarter," Shuart said. "Make sure we aren't turning the puck over in bad areas and we will be fine. I thought we worked hard all night and it's a problem for us."
Michigan's third period goal scorer, Downing, echoed his teammates' sentiments.
"We just have to start on time," Downing said. "This first period is killing us all year and if you look at the shots throughout the whole game, we had 40 shots and two goals. That is just unacceptable. We had 10-15 chances and none of them went in. So, we just have to bear down and bury our chances."
Opening faceoff at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night is 7:35 pm.
Trailing 1-0 at the time, Penn State's opening goal was a power play effort by Max Gardiner. Michigan's defensive effort lapsed fatally as the Nittany Lions scored two more goals in quick succession on two man-advantage rushes, one a breakaway and the other a two-on-one sequence.
Michigan replied only one other time, a third period marker by defenseman Michael Downing. A first minute goal by Max Shuart had staked the Wolverines to an early one-goal lead before the Penn State's first period offensive outburst.
Penn State goaltender Eamon McAdam frustrated the Wolverines offense, turning aside 38 Michigan shots.
"I liked our team as the game wore on," said Michigan head coach Red Berenson. "I thought we got better and better. It was a game of missed chances. When you give them opportunities like we gave them, we've got to put the puck on the net. We missed the net on our best chances. We have to be better than that. We have to start better than that also. We turned the puck over on seemingly harmless turnovers, blue line turnovers, we got trapped, and now they have a two on one on the first and a breakaway on the second. We have to take care of the puck and have to win those battles."
Michigan gets a return match in quick order to try to right the disappointment of losing the Big Ten conference opener on home ice.
"We need to bear down pucks better and be smarter," Shuart said. "Make sure we aren't turning the puck over in bad areas and we will be fine. I thought we worked hard all night and it's a problem for us."
Michigan's third period goal scorer, Downing, echoed his teammates' sentiments.
"We just have to start on time," Downing said. "This first period is killing us all year and if you look at the shots throughout the whole game, we had 40 shots and two goals. That is just unacceptable. We had 10-15 chances and none of them went in. So, we just have to bear down and bury our chances."
Opening faceoff at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night is 7:35 pm.
