NMU loses three goal lead & game at PSU

UNIVERSITY CENTER, Pa. — Sophomore defenseman Barrett Kaib led the Northern Michigan University hockey team in a four-goal second period, scoring two but the Wildcats couldn’t keep Penn State down as the Nittany Lions scored three goals in the third period to take a 5-4 non-conference win over NMU Friday at the Pegula Ice Arena.

The loss drops NMU to 9-9-5 on the season while Penn State improved to 12-7-3 on the campaign.

The Nittany Lions took advantage of an early power play opportunity scoring a goal 1:22 into the first period when Dylan Richard scored on assists from Curtis Loik and Scott Conway taking an early 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats evened the score at 1-1 when Kaib one-timed a shot across the goalie into the far side of the net just 1:41 into the second period. Sophomore Dominik Shine and freshman Robbie Payne recorded assists on the goal. It was Kaib’s third goal of the season.

NMU took a 2-1 lead at the 3:55 mark of the second when senior forward Ryan Kesti scored an even-strength goal on a feed from senior forward Reed Seckel and sophomore forward Sami Salminen. Kesti played the puck from Seckel, who passed the puck from behind the net, and finished the shot from the front of the net to the stick side.

Salminen gave NMU a 3-1 lead when he finished a feed from sophomore defenseman Brock Maschmeyer at the 11:54 mark of the second period.

Kaib scored his second goal of the night on an assist from Salminen at the 14:48 mark in the second period. Kaib’s second goal instigated a goalie change as PJ Musico came on in relief of starter Matthew Skoff who finished the game with 15 saves.

A power play goal from Casey Bailey cut the Wildcats lead to 4-2 with under a minute left in the second period (19:38) on assists from Luke Juha and David Glen.

The Wildcats were outshot 17-13 but dominated the second period as sophomore goalie Mathias Dahlstrom saved 16 of 17 shots faced.

The Nittany Lions cut the NMU lead to one goal when Richard scored a short-handed goal on an assist from Sheid 3:34 into the third frame.

Penn State evened the game at 4-4 when David Glen scored at the 14:20 mark of the third period sneaking a goal over the shoulder of Dahlstrom on assists from David Thompson and Loik.

The Nittany Lions took a 5-4 lead when Conway scored at the 16:40 mark of the third on assists from Sheid and Richard.

Dahlstrom recorded a career-high 48 saves in net for the Wildcats as he moved to 9-7-3 on the campaign. Musico picked up his first win of the season (1-1-0) making 11 saves in net.

Penn State outshot the Wildcats 53-30 in the game. NMU was 0-3 on the power play while Penn State went 2-6 on its power play opportunities.

NMU and Penn State complete their non conference series at 4:30 p.m. Saturday a the Pegula Ice Arena. The game will be carried live on the Big Ten Network.