Forward JJ Wiebusch (20) scores the game winning goal during the Penn State men’s hockey playoff game against Michigan on Friday, March 7, 2025 in the Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor Mi. The Nittany Lions beat the Wolverines 6-5 in overtime.
Forward JJ Wiebusch (20) scores the game winning goal during the Penn State men’s hockey playoff game against Michigan on Friday, March 7, 2025 in the Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor Mi. The Nittany Lions beat the Wolverines 6-5 in overtime.
Penn State had both everything to gain and everything to lose when it entered Yost Ice Arena Friday night for Game 1 of the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. A series win over Michigan would firmly cement the Nittany Lions’ spot in the NCAA Tournament, while even just one loss would doom all chances of extending their season.
After a back-and-forth contest, the blue and white got one step closer to a bid to the national tournament with a 6-5 overtime win in dramatic fashion, and the sports world had a lot to say.
BETWEEN THE LEGS GAME-WINNER IN OVERTIME 🤯 Penn State beats Michigan in a thriller 🏒 (via @PennStateMHKY)pic.twitter.com/DLg0iOddbj
A HAT TRICK, GAME WINNER, BETWEEN THE LEGS IS UNREALLLLL 🔥🍿(via @PennStateMHKY) pic.twitter.com/wnBe2jqtJ0
BETWEEN THE LEGS GAME-WINNER IN OVERTIME 🤯 (🎥: @PennStateMHKY) pic.twitter.com/EXkmnS0hbI
Freshman forward JJ Wiebusch was already having an impressive performance, potting Penn State’s fourth and fifth goals of the night to give the team a two-goal lead about halfway through the third period.
Wiebusch’s shining moment — and the one that put the hockey world on watch — came five minutes into the high-stakes overtime period, after the forward pulled the puck in between his legs and flicked it past Michigan goaltender Logan Stein for the game-winner.
The overtime goal marked the first hat trick of Wiebusch’s career, the 15th in program history and the first ever in postseason history.
A #bucciovertimechallenge winner in a must win game for Penn St!!!!!! #SCTop10 https://t.co/EtUlSY74IR
Ewwwww hat trick, between the legs, OT winner, hearbreaker 🤢💔 pic.twitter.com/eH2Dkw4wGP
Wiebusch wasn’t the only one setting records, as Hobey Baker hopeful Aiden Fink tallied four assists on the night to secure Penn State’s single-season point record with 51.
Congrats Aiden!Penn State single-season scoring record! https://t.co/ZBGL9BD3f3
The Nittany Lions are back in Yost Ice Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday for a chance to advance in the conference tournament and earn a spot to compete for the national championship.
MORE HOCKEY CONTENT
Falling to No. 3 Minnesota last weekend, the No. 15 Nittany Lions finished their Big Ten sea…
If you’re interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.
We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
