Penn State dominates Wisconsin in opener, 6-1

The No. 10-ranked Penn State men’s hockey program dominated the Wisconsin Badgers Friday night in a 6-1 victory at Pegula Ice Arena. 

Penn State moves 20-12-1 on the season, and 10-12-1 in Big Ten play. 

How it happened

Penn State started the scoring fast. Needing a win tonight to get Penn State closer to a home ice series in the Big Ten tournament, the team came out fast, clean, and strong. 

Danny Dzhaniyev got the scoring started just 14 seconds into this game. The opening score of this game came with assists from Ashton Calder and Ture Linden. 

Just a little over six minutes later, the Nittany Lions went on the power-play, where Linden took advantage of the man advantage, and made this game a two-goal game. Dzhaniyev and Berger earned assists on the goal. 

Linden was not done in the period. With just 3:24 to play in the first, Linden notched his second goal of the period, with Calder and Jarod Crespo getting the assist on the goal. 

Penn State started the period with intensity and carried it through the period. This gave the Nittany Lions a clear advantage early on. Though the Nittany Lions scored three goals, efforts from Badger goalie Jared Moe, along with the Badger defense helped stop multiple very strong chances from the Nittany Lions. 

Penn State piles on

The Nittany Lions followed their three-goal first period with a three-goal second period. 

The Nittany Lions continued their high intensity in the third period and continued to play at a fast pace in the second period, generating 13 shots, converting three of them. 

Tyler Gratton got the scoring started in the second period with some crafty stickwork in front of the goal, with 16:58 to play in the period. Kevin wall and Crespo earned assists on the goal. 

Connor McMenamin joined in on the scoring as he deflected Dylan Gratton shot, putting Penn State up 5-0 with 9:22 to play in the period. Gratton and Xander Lamppa earned assists on the play. 

With 3:30 remaining in period two, Simon Mack scores off a centering pass from Connor MacEachern, with Wall also earning an assist. 

The Badgers got their first goal with 10:13 to play in the game as Brock Caufield scored with the Badgers on a man-advantage and broke the Nittany Lion shut-out. 

The Nittany Lions did not score in the third period, but that did not stop the Pegula Ice Arena crowd from being loud. The crowd was exhilarated until the final horn sounded. 

Takeaways

Penn State scored on the power play for the first time in the second half of the season, which is a unit that the team needs to get going looking toward the postseason. 

The Dzhaniyev, Linden, and Calder line combined for seven points in Friday’s win, generating lots of chances and adding yet another dominant line for the Nittany Lions. 

Though Moe allowed six goals tonight, the Wisconsin defense was not helping him much, allowing the Nittany Lions to get many quality chances alone in front of the net. The Nittany Lions need to exploit that lack of defense again Saturday night. 

Penn State went into tonight’s game knowing that the team needed at least four points, but likely a sweep (six points) to get a home ice series in the Big Ten tournament. The regulation win in Friday night’s contest was a huge first step in getting that home ice. 

What’s next for Penn State

The Nittany Lions will host the Badgers in the series finale Saturday at 5:00 PM at Pegula Ice Arena, in University Park, Pa.