Penn State Bounces Back Strong, Earns Key Conference Win Over Ohio State
Contrary to last night, Penn State came out with a sense of urgency to defeat Ohio State by a score of 5-2.
Penn State had the better chances in the first period and the Nittany Lions were rewarded for their efforts.
With 12:22 to go in the first period, Penn State grabbed the lead. Freshman Christian Sarlo used his stick to force a turnover in the corner. He picked the pocket of an Ohio State player and fed it out front where Alex Limoges was wide open in the slot. Limoges now has a team high seven goals this season.
Penn State was phenomenal on the penalty kill in the first period. The Nittany Lions took three penalties in the first but was a perfect 3/3 on the PK.
Ohio State tied the game when senior Grant Gabriele ripped a shot through traffic from the point. Despite being a defenseman, it was Gabriele’s fourth goal and seventh point in 12 games this season.
The Nittany Lions would head into the second period knotted at a goal a piece, but trailing in the shots department 15-10.
Penn State hit the ground running in the second period and didn’t look back.
Just a minute in, Connor MacEachern had a beautiful look on a rebound from the top of the circle, but Ohio State goalie Tommy Nappier stood tall.
Soon after, Hurricanes prospect Kevin Wall would not quit as he scored on a wraparound try. With 17:05 left in the second period, Wall’s goal gave them a 2-1 lead.
The sophomore has been a bright spot for Penn State this season. It was Wall’s fourth of the year, doubling his goal total a year ago in less than half the games.
Ohio State took a high sticking penalty, but Penn State was unsuccessful and started 0/3 on the man-advantage.
Penn State would go up 3-1 largely thanks to Sarlo. The freshman continued his dominating performance with a no-look pass to Tim Doherty to give Penn State a 3-1 lead. Sarlo jumped on a loose puck at the circle and sent a blind pass to the slot for Doherty to clean up.
At the halfway point of the second period, Ohio State would get its fifth powerplay of the evening. The Nittany Lions would remain perfect on the PK.
With 5:53 left in the second period, Ohio State’s Collin Peters committed a five minute elbowing major. With the 3-1 lead, Penn State missed a real opportunity to add to the lead. The Nittany Lions couldn’t find the back of the net despite a few quality looks.
Ohio State would put the pressure on as they cut the lead in half. Mark Cheremeta put one behind Penn State’s Oskar Autio. The Penn State goalie had a chance to cover the puck up earlier in the shift but poorly chose to keep the play moving. The lead was just one at 15:28 left in the third period. Despite the mistake, Autio played solid stopping 28 of 30 Buckeye shots.
While the Buckeyes pushed hard, Penn State potted two empty net goals from Connor McMenamin and Wall.
Penn State improved to 5-7 overall with the win. The Nittany Lions will have six straight games at home coming up, with Michigan State, Wisconsin and Notre Dame all coming to Pegula Ice Arena.
Kyle Cannillo is a broadcast journalism major at Penn State. To contact him, please email kcannillo1@gmail.com.
