No. 2 Michigan Edges No. 5 Penn State in Shootout

Lions rally but can't finish in overtime against Wolverines

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Despite a valiant effort from a short-handed Penn State squad, No. 2 Michigan prevailed 5-4 in a shootout after the teams were tied 4-4 at the end of regulation and overtime. The Nittany Lions overcame injuries to key players but couldn't capitalize on their chances in the extra period, ultimately falling short against the higher-ranked Wolverines.

Why it matters

This was a crucial Big Ten matchup between two top-5 teams, with Penn State looking to gain ground in the conference standings. The loss is a tough one for the Nittany Lions, who showed resilience in battling back but couldn't complete the upset over their highly-ranked rivals.

The details

Penn State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a goal from Reese Laubach, but Michigan answered to tie it at 1-1. The Nittany Lions regained the lead on a goal from Jackson Smith, but the Wolverines scored twice more to make it 3-2 Michigan. Nic Chin-DeGraves tied it at 3-3 for Penn State before TJ Hughes put Michigan up 4-3. Jackson Smith scored late in the third period to force overtime, where neither team could find the winner. In the shootout, Michigan's Jack Ivankovic stopped all three Penn State shots to give the Wolverines the extra point.

  • Penn State opened the scoring at 0:58 of the first period.
  • Michigan tied the game at 9:18 of the first period.
  • Penn State regained the lead at 11:35 of the first period.
  • Michigan scored on the power play at 14:25 of the first period to tie it 2-2.
  • Penn State went up 3-2 at 8:20 of the second period.

The players

Reese Laubach

A Penn State forward who scored the opening goal for the Nittany Lions.

JJ Wiebusch

A Penn State forward who assisted on Laubach's goal.

Matt DiMarsico

A Penn State forward who also assisted on Laubach's goal.

Garrett Schifsky

A Michigan forward who scored the game-tying goal for the Wolverines.

Michael Hage

A Michigan forward who had three assists, including on the game-tying and go-ahead goals for the Wolverines.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The two teams will meet again tomorrow at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 5pm on Big Ten Network.

The takeaway

This was a hard-fought game between two of the top teams in the Big Ten, with Penn State showing tremendous resilience in battling back despite key injuries. While the Nittany Lions couldn't complete the upset, this game highlighted the team's growth and competitiveness against an elite opponent.