Penn State hockey primed for Frozen Four face-off Thursday night

Note: The Penn State-Boston start time is delayed due to double overtime in the first semifinal. Click here to learn when it could begin.

After winning the Allentown Regional of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament, the No. 12-ranked Penn State men’s hockey program will make its first-ever Frozen Four appearance on Thursday. The Nittany Lions’ opponent: perennial contender No. 8-ranked Boston University Terriers.

A Cinderella story season has led Penn State to this point. After starting 0-8 in Big Ten play, a four-point weekend against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish turned the tide for the Nittany Lions, sparking a hot streak like no other.

Since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Nittany Lions have lost just three regulation games. They made it to the semi-finals of the Big Ten Tournament, but they fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in overtime.

However, Penn State’s sweep over the Michigan Wolverines in the series prior was enough to keep them in position in the PairWise to make it to the NCAA Tournament. After a dominating 5-1 win over the Maine Black Bears, the Nittany Lions defeated the UConn Huskies 3-2 in overtime. Matthew DiMarsico’s golden goal sent Penn State to the Frozen Four–a place the program had never been before.

The puck drops at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, MO, around 8:30 p.m. EST, depending on when the game before (Denver vs. Western Michigan) goes final.

Examining the matchups

The Nittany Lions are a fast and aggressive offensive team. Their attack is truly special, with a top-six full of elite scoring threats. Penn State uses its speed to its advantage. They make it challenging for opposing defenses.

UConn matched up well, leading to that OT thriller. Boston University is an absolutely loaded team with talent, but UConn may have been better equipped to slow down that high-flying Nittany Lion rush.

BU is going to excel with its own offensive talent. Compared to the danger that Penn State poses off the rush, Boston University thrives when setting up with sustained pressure; something they’re darn good at. The Terriers will be a challenging task for the Nittany Lion defense, especially with Carter Schade out for the rest of the season.

Nick Fascia stepped up in place of Schade. He delivered what could have very well been the momentum-swinging hit during overtime of the UConn game. He played a great regional, and that will have to continue for Penn State to continue its Cinderella run.

Special teams set for significance

Boston University boasts a 28.4 scoring percentage on the power play. They have 38 goals this season with the man advantage. I mentioned that they’re good at sustaining pressure; they make it look 10 times easier on the man advantage.

No team ever wants to commit penalties, but Penn State will need to be extra disciplined if it wants to beat the Terriers.

The Nittany Lion power play is not far behind. This season, Penn State is 23.9 percent on the power play. However, they have been heating up lately, scoring six power-play goals on 10 chances in the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments combined. UConn was the only team to hold Penn State scoreless on the power play since the conclusion of the regular season.

In non-conference play this season, both in the regular season and in the NCAA tournament, the Nittany Lions have not allowed a power-play goal. Including Big Ten play, the Nittany Lions have the 34th-ranked penalty killing unit, with a 79.3 PK percentage.

The Terriers are behind the Nittany Lions with the 38th-ranked penalty kill, with a PK% of 78.5%.

All signs indicate an offensive battle on the horizon.

Players to Watch

Penn State

G, Aresnii Sergeev
If Thursday’s game is going to be an offensive battle, then a lot of pressure will fall on the goaltenders. For Penn State, that would be Sergeev. He has played unbelievably well since returning from injury and is a big reason the team is here. He is arguably the biggest X factor on this Penn State team.

F, Aiden Fink
The Nittany Lions have found heroics from Dane Dowiak, Matt DiMarsico, and JJ Wiebusch in the NCAA tournament and the Big Ten Tournament. One player that has struggled is Aiden Fink, the Nittany Lions’ leading scorer. Penn State has found ways to win even without Fink scoring. If he can get going again, there is no telling what the Nittany Lions are capable of.

D, Nick Fascia
I touched on it earlier, but Nick Fascia is stepping in for the injured Carter Schade and has played a massive role in the Nittany Lions’ NCAA Tournament success thus far. Fascia is one of two freshmen on defense playing in this big stretch. He has answered the call so far. The Nittany Lions will need him to keep it up to solidify the defensive corps.

Boston University

G, Mikhail Yegorov
Mikhail Yegorov joined the Terriers after enrolling at Boston University for the second semester and has been nothing short of fantastic since. The same goes for Yegorov and Sergeev. The goalies will have added pressure in a game with two great offenses. He is the biggest X Factor for the Terriers.

F, Quinn Hutson
Quinn Hutson, the older brother of NHL Calder Trophy favorite Lane Hutson (and former BU player), is having a career season. He is second in the NCAA in points per game, and has 50 points (9th in NCAA), with 23 goals (8th) and 27 assists (5th). On a team loaded with NHL prospects, the undrafted Quinn Hutson is leading the charge for the Terriers.

D, Cole Hutson
Yes, there is another Hutson at Boston University. Cole Hutson, the third youngest brother (there is a fourth, Lars), is a freshman at BU, leading the scoring for defensemen at BU, and the second leading point scoring defenseman in the country. The brothers Hutson will be trouble for the Nittany Lions.

How to Watch

The Nittany Lions and Terriers will take the ice following the University of Denver vs Western Michigan game prior. The game is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. EST, but could be delayed if the game prior runs long.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.