After comeback win, Penn State hockey set for stiff test
The now No. 20-ranked Penn State men’s hockey program beat Army, 7-6, on Saturday thanks to a 5-0 run by the Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lions moved to 10-7-3 on the season with their win. But, set to host Michigan State for a key Big Ten showdown this weekend, the challenge will soon get tougher.
Army’s Fast Start
Heading into the game as the No.19-ranked team in the nation, the Nittany Lions were expected to handle Army with ease.
Instead, Army jumped out to a to a 3-2 lead at the end of the first intermission, scoring three times between Aiden Fink’s opening goal and Simon Mack’s goal to close out the first period for the Nittany Lions. Army came out with fire in the second period, scoring three straight goals all within the first six minutes of the period. They held a 6-2 lead over the Nittany Lions, but that’s as far as it would go.
The Comeback
At the 13-minute mark, Reese Laubach answered the three straight Army Scores with a score of his own to cut the deficit down to 3. Ryan Kirwan got on the board late in the second period, as his goal brought Penn State back within striking distance, being down just two entering the third period.
Kirwan continued to build momentum for the Nittany Lions as scored again under two-minutes into the third period, with Christian Berger knotting the game up at 6 just under a minute later.
Fink capped off the Nittany Lion comeback with his second score of the night, giving the Nittany Lions the lead and eventually the win.
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Coach’s reaction
While it is easy to a large comeback win, Penn State men’s hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky said that he was frustrated with the game.
“We were frustrated that we put ourselves in that position, frustrated that we gave up the chances that we did, and frustrated that we let in pucks that we should not have let in”. Gadowsky said.
Gadowsky later went on to mention that Kirwan’s late second period goal was a big turning point in that game, and when asked which of his scores he thought was more important, the junior forward agreed.
What’s next for Penn State
The Nittany Lions will host the No. 8-ranked Michigan State Spartans on Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Pegula Ice Arena.
