Wolverines prepared to face Nittany Lions in B1G Tournament

Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

 

By Stefan Kubus – 

Entering the inaugural B1G Hockey tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, legendary Michigan head coach Red Berenson knows that with a one-game series, anything can happen.

No. 3 Michigan faces a No. 6 Penn State team that has given the Wolverines some issues this season. While Michigan defeated the Nittany Lions twice, 5-2 and 7-3, Penn State’s only two conference wins this season came against the Wolverines.

“We know that Penn State can beat anyone on a given night and they have nothing to lose,” Berenson said. “Certainly we have a lot of respect for them with the way they played against us in all four of the games, so they’re a team to fear going into a format like this.”

Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said the pair of wins against the Wolverines were certainly hard-fought efforts, but also a result of some “good bounces.”

Recently crowned Big Ten freshman of the year JT Compher helps lead the Wolverines’ offense, and Berenson credits his drive for the success he’s had this season. In the up-and-down, four-game series, Compher recorded four points.

“His passion and work ethic has separated him from some of the other high-skill players of his age, and he just outworks them,” Berenson said.

On the back end, captain Mac Bennett is healthy heading into the tournament after returning last weekend from an upper-body injury. There was a scare because his x-rays were originally misread as four broken ribs, when Bennett in fact had zero broken ribs.

“He’s our captain, he’s our leader in the locker room as well as on the ice,” Berenson said. “He missed three weeks of hockey, but it looked at one point when he first got injured that he might miss the rest of the season.

He’s fine, he played both games (against Minnesota), he played all out and he’s ready to go, so that means a lot to our team.”

The goaltending situation has been a roller coaster ride in itself for Berenson this season, with sophomore Steve Racine and freshman Zach Nagelvoort each seeing their fair share of time in goal. According to Berenson, Nagelvoort “will probably” play Thursday.

“We’re confident we can play either one of them going forward,” Berenson said. “I like where we are; we’re not just dependent on one goalie.”

Puck drop from the Xcel Energy Center in Minnesota is set for 3 p.m. EST.