Penn State has reiterated throughout the season that it tries not to watch the scoreboard, preferring to focus on the game ahead.
Heading into its weekend series against Michigan, however, the Nittany Lions knew they needed a sweep over the Wolverines to get a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament.
When the final horn sounded on Friday night’s contest at Yost Ice Arena, the hope for that bye disappeared.
The Wolverines used a dominant third period to top the Lions 7-1, clinching the first-round bye that the Lions were chasing.