Penn State Hockey Falls Again, Offensive Struggles Continue

Story posted January 8, 2021 in CommRadio, Sports by Kyle Cannillo

Penn State dropped its second straight game after being defeated by Ohio State by a final score of 6-3. The Nittany Lions, who tend to play an offensive brand of hockey, have scored just five goals in their last three games combined.

Ohio State wasted no time getting on the board. A little over two minutes into the contest, Austin Pooley went up the middle untouched to give the Buckeyes the early lead. It was another Penn State defensive breakdown. Pooley just split the defense and put it behind goalie Oskar Autio.

Action was fast and furious in the opening frame. The Buckeyes nearly got their second of the contest when Autio made a sensational save to dive across and rob Grant Gabriele.

Minutes later, they took the multi-goal advantage. With 11:21 to go in the first period, a wacky deflected shot trickled by Autio. The goal was credited to Quinn Preston.

Coming into the contest, Penn State was red hot on the man advantage. That trend would continue when Penn State got its first power play following a holding call by Dominic Vidoli.

Penn State moved the puck beautifully on the power play but Preston was sacrificing the body with key blocks.

Finally, Penn State got the shot through when Jimmy Dowd Jr. blasted it to the back of the net. Aarne Talvitie received the primary assist, the first of two points tonight.

With that goal, Penn State has now scored at least one power play goal in five of the last six games. The only game the Nittany Lions did not score a man-advantage tally in, they did not have an opportunity to do so.

The second period started much like the first. The Nittany Lions committed a poor defensive zone turnover and it would cost them. Ohio State’s Travis Treloar lifted a backhand off the bar and in to give Ohio State the 3-1 advantage.

The Nittany Lions were headed back to the man advantage and just like the last one, they made it count. Roles reversed on this power play goal: This time it was Dowd who sent it to Talvitie cross ice. The New Jersey Devils prospect hesitated a second and picked his corner. The lead was cut in half to 3-2.

The beginning of periods were a problem all night long for Penn State. The Buckeyes started each period with a goal within three minutes. Ohio State forced a high turnover that led to an odd-man rush. The goal was credited to Preston, scoring his second of the night. The junior from Michigan now has six goals in 11 games to lead the team.

The nightmare third period for Penn State continued. Ohio State earned its first power play as Clayton Phillips was booked for a hook. Six seconds into the man-advantage, Treloar would get his second of the game to make it 5-2.

Penn State had a few chances late in the third, but Tommy Nappier made two back to back saves on Tim Doherty and Christian Sarlo to keep it a three goal game.

Evan Bell added a goal at 18:36 in the third period. He rifled a shot through traffic to find twine.

Pooley was the third Buckeye to earn his second of the game as he potted the empty netter to make it 6-3.

Penn State, who showed lack of life from the start, needs to start finding its groove to be considered for the postseason. Penn State now drops to 4-7 overall and 2-7 in conference play. They will look to rebound tomorrow at 5:30 p.m.

 

Kyle Cannillo is a broadcast journalism major at Penn State. To contact him, email kcannillo1@gmail.com.