Around the Big Ten (Hockey): Week 3
Another exciting week of hockey is in the books, so let’s take a look at how the Big Ten conference performed.
Ohio State
After jumping out to a 4-0 start, the Buckeyes saw themselves struggle against the University of Connecticut, tying the first game 0-0, and getting blown out 6-1 in game two.
Ohio State fell from No. 11 to No. 16 in this week's USCHO rankings.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions completed another sweep taking both games of their home-and-home series with the Mercyhurst Lakers.
Ture Linden scored seven seconds in making it the fastest goal in Penn State hockey history. The Lakers did tie the game later in the period, but Penn State’s offense took off scoring five more goals winning game one 6-3.
The next day, Penn State traveled up to Erie, Pennsylvania to play the Lakers again. Senior Kevin Wall netted his fourth goal of the season in the first period. Ashton Calder, Paul DeNaples, and Tyler Paquette found the net as well. Penn State won the game 4-1.
Penn State moved up to No. 18 and forward Ben Schoen was named Big Ten First Star of the Week, scoring four points over the weekend.
Michigan
The Wolverines ended up splitting with Boston University, dominating the first game 9-2, and dropping the second game 3-2.
Mackie Samoskevich and Seamus Casey both found the net twice in game one, and Luke Hughes potted his first as well.
Boston responded well in game two taking the 3-2 victory. Michigan comes in at No. 5 and Boston at No. 9 after their meeting.
Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish got their first two wins of the season against Northern Michigan with a 2-1 and 5-4 win.
Notre Dame was happy to bounce back into the win column after its 0-1-1 start to the season. A lot of expectation falls on the Fighting Irish as they look to continue their climb to the very top of the Big Ten.
Notre Dame lands at No. 13 on the polls this week, moving up one spot.
Michigan State
The Spartans were an underdog coming into their series against No. 16 UMass Lowell River Hawks. MSU got the win in game one winning 4-3.
Miroslav Mucha found twine twice in the first game, which helped the Spartans claim victory, but the second didn’t go as planned.
UMass Lowell answered back taking the game 3-2. The Spartans came back late scoring two goals in the third period, but couldn’t net the game-tying score.
The split knocked UMass Lowell down to No. 19 in the top 20 rankings.
Wisconsin
The woes just keep coming for the Badgers, dropping to 0-4 to start the year, but playing now No. 8 St. Cloud certainly doesn’t help a struggling team.
The offense didn’t show up in game one, only scoring one goal the entire game. St. Cloud cruised to an easy 5-1 victory.
Game two saw the Badgers play tighter defense, but the offense only scored once again.
Wisconsin goaltender, Kyle McClellan, kept the Badgers in the game from start to finish with a very strong performance, but a late powerplay goal for St. Cloud sealed the game, handing Wisconsin a close 2-1 loss.
Minnesota
The Golden Gophers weren’t active this week, but are still ranked as the best team in college hockey.
They look on to play No. 7 North Dakota in a huge series this weekend.
Anthony Desher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.
