By embracing physicality, Michigan extended lead in victory over Penn State

The No. 2 Michigan hockey team built a 3-0 lead in minutes on Friday, but Penn State didn’t stay silent. And when the Wolverines extended their lead in a resounding victory, it wasn’t by chance. In Michigan’s high-scoring win, its physicality decided the pace of the game. When it could stay on top of the puck, it built up its lead. And when the Nittany Lions battled back, the scoring gap narrowed. “(Physicality is) definitely a big part of the game,” freshman forward Jack Nesbitt said. “They’re a tough team. They hit, and we’ll do the same. It’s going to be rough.” For the first seven minutes, the Wolverines locked up Penn State behind a strong offensive presence. The Nittany Lions managed to make just three shots by the time Michigan scored its third goal. It wasn’t that Penn State couldn’t get to its offensive zone. In fact, the Nittany Lions spent their fair share of time in front of the Wolverines’ net, and even won three of seven faceoffs.

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