Can Penn State men’s hockey keep its hot streak going against the Big Ten’s best hockey team?

The Big Ten Conference’s best hockey team and its hottest hockey team meet in a two-game series this weekend, and Penn State (the hot team) enters the matchup hoping to keep its successful streak on course while facing its most challenging late-season test.

Since the college hockey season moved into 2025, Penn State has gone 9-2-3, lifting itself from the basement of the conference standings to a position that could make home conference playoff games and even a spot in the NCAA Tournament a possibility.

This weekend, though, the conference’s best team, and the best team in the country, top-ranked Michigan State, stands in the way of continued progress for the 18th-ranked Nittany Lions.

Michigan State is 10-2-1 at home this season, dropping only a Feb. 7 decision to rival Michigan and an Oct. 11 game against No. 2 Boston College.

Penn State’s last victory at MSU came 1,092 days ago on Feb. 25, 2022 — although the Nittany Lions did get a tie and shootout victory on Nov. 10, 2023.

Sophomore forward Aiden Fink, the nation’s top scorer, leads Penn State into the matchup. Fink has 22 goals and 22 assists. That’s 44 points in 30 games.

He’s not carrying the offensive load alone. Four teammates have double-digit goal totals — Reese Laubach (14), Charlie Cerrato (12), Matt DiMarsico (10) and Danny Dzhaniyev (10).

Plus, goaltender Arsenii Sergeev has been one of the nation’s best netminders since he returned from injury. He’s 13-6-3 overall.

Penn State’s well-rounded play has been the key to some historic hockey in recent weeks. Penn State’s sweeps over Notre Dame last weekend and Wisconsin the weekend before marked the first time the team had recorded back-to-back regular season sweeps in conference play.

Of course, Michigan State, which was off last weekend, has many strengths.

It’s second among Big Ten teams in goals scored (107, with Penn State third at 104), and it’s the stingiest team by far — allowing just 61 goals. MSU also boasts the conference’s best penalty kill, stopping opponents 82.2% of the time.

Junior forward Isaac Howard sits just behind Fink on the conference’s scoring chart. He has 22 goals and 21 assists. That’s 43 points in 30 games.

Still, its MSU’s defense that provides the foundation for the team’s success. That starts with goaltender Trey Augustine, who has played in 23 games, winning 15 — the most of any backstop in the Big Ten so far this season.

No. 18 Penn State (16-11-3, 7-10-3 Big Ten) at No. 1 Michigan State (22-5-3, 13-4-3)

Series: 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday

Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, 103.7 FM

Streaming/TV: Big Ten Network (both nights)

Notable: The teams met Jan. 10-11 at Pegula Ice Arena with MSU getting a 6-4 victory in the first game and then the teams skated to a 2-2 tie, although Penn State won the shootout. … Penn State is 15-0-0 when leading after two periods this season. … The Nittany Lions are 7-4-3 in one-goal games. … Penn State remains 16th in this week’s Pairwise Rankings, which largely determine the 16-team NCAA Tournament field.