Around Big Ten Hockey: Feb. 15

The Big Ten conference is one of action-packed dramatics. So many teams battling for standings positions week after week.

How did the recent matchups pan out and what is on the horizon?

Penn State Nittany Lions (12-13-3) vs. No. 8 Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-7-5)

Welcome to the Justen Close show. After winning Big Ten’s First Star of the Week last week, Close repeated as the conference’s No. 1 star yet again.

Both Game 1 and 2 ended with the same score, 3-0 in favor of the Gophers, but it was a mixture of depth and defense that really got it done. In the first game, Rhett Pitlick took over early. Scoring twice in the opening five minutes of the game.

Connor Kurth would add another, but the Gophers were able to lock it down even when outmanned during certain parts of the game.

Similar story with Game 2 with Aaron Huglen taking over the scoresheet. With two goals, he was able to help Minnesota get the sweep.

Close would save 66 of 66 shots he faced over the weekend and tied a Minnesota career shutout record with 13.

Huglen’s three-point weekend got him Big Ten Third Star of the Week.

Penn State had its chances, but the Nittany Lions couldn’t crack the armor. Liam Souliere had a good series overall, but the defense slipped a few times leading to some great opportunities for the Gophers.

No. 6 Michigan State Spartans (20-7-3) vs. No. 14 Michigan Wolverines (14-11-3)

It was a fun weekend to be a Spartan too as Michigan State broke out some brooms as well. Gavin Brindley gave the Wolverines the lead in Game 1, but it was all green after that with five unanswered goals for a 5-1 win.

Game 2 took the battle to Little Caesars Arena in Detroit where the Spartans squashed any chance of the Wolverines getting the split.

The two teams exchanged goals, but the Spartans took over with a 3-1 lead. Brindley would score again, but it wouldn’t be enough for the Wolverines to win. The 3-2 win and Duel in the D would belong to Michigan State.

Trey Augustine had a standout weekend of his own, stopping 65 of 68 shots fired his way. He posted a 1.50 goals-against average and a .956 save percentage to help the Spartans hold their first spot in the Big Ten standings.

Augustine’s lockdown play earned him Big Ten Second Star of the Week.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-14-2) vs. No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers (22-6-2)

This series brought us another sweep as the Badgers took care of business against the Irish.

Two first-period goals by the Irish in Game 1 showed good signs for Notre Dame, but some heroics from David Silye helped lift the Badgers to a 4-2 win.

It was very back-and-forth in Game 2 with both teams trading blows, but a strong third period from Wisconsin put the sweep in place. Cole Knuble scored late to creep the Irish closer, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.

The upcoming slate:

• Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

• Michigan vs. Penn State

• Minnesota vs. Notre Dame

Anthony Desher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.