Penn State fails to sweep Ohio State in back and forth affair
Penn State could not complete a late comeback Saturday night as they fell to Ohio State by a final score of 4-3.
The Nittany Lions failed to complete a series sweep in the Big Ten for the fourth consecutive time.
“No matter what happens (in game one), the second night you have to be better,” coach Guy Gadowsky said.
Penn State has won every opening series game they have played this year collecting an impressive 9-0 record. However, the Nittany Lions have a lackluster 5-4 record in game two.
Second year captain Paul Denaples is unsure as to why the Nittany Lions have been struggling to finish off series.
“We have to adjust and figure it out,” Denaples said, “I don’t have an answer as to why we’re playing differently [in game twos].”
The first period was a wild ride, similar to Penn State’s game two affair with Michigan State before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The play certainly opened up much earlier than during Friday night’s contest. The Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions exchanged three goals within the first six minutes.
A raucous Pegula Ice Arena roared for exciting back and forth hockey with big chances and bigger goals being exchanged either way thanks to some extended four-on-four play.
One moment that stood out was Nittany Lion goaltender Liam Souliere stoning a Buckeye on a breakaway before defenseman Jimmy Dowd Jr. took the frozen biscuit the other way, showing tremendous patience and finding forward Danny Dzhaniyev for a one-time goal.
Despite trailing 3-2 after the opening frame, Gadowsky thought his team had a better first period in comparison to Friday night’s game. The Penn State bench boss believed Ohio State simply capitalized on the few chances they had.
The Buckeyes did a nice job settling things down in period two, slowing the pace and limiting the chances. Ohio State scored the lone middle period tally to take a multiple goal lead into the third.
The Blue and White showed some good fight to battle back in that third period, but could only end up pulling themselves within one thanks to a Ture Linden goal.
That marker was nice to see, especially since Linden had not scored since November 4 against Michigan.
Despite his guys’ strong fight, Gadowsky did not love where his team was at in that third period.
“Playing behind hockey is losing hockey, because you end up taking chances and costing yourself,” he said.
Penn State had a power play in the final minute which became a two-man advantage with the goalie pulled, but could not get one by Buckeye goaltender Jakob Dobes.
The game finished 4-3 with Ohio State’s players throwing up the “O” to the Penn State students in the roar zone.
Now Penn State will gear up to go on the road and play another tough Big Ten series against Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish have struggled to meet preseason expectations. They have a 7-7-2 record and sit in sixth in the Big Ten.
Nittany Lion captain Paul Denaples said his squad needs to make a few more adjustments to put it all together.
“I think guys really haven’t gotten that message that you gotta play great two nights in a row and get six points on the weekend,” he said.
Maclain Young is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email macyoung21@gmail.com.
