Penn State hockey snaps slide to top Ohio State, 4-3
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State men’s hockey program found themselves back in the win column after a 4-3 win over Ohio State Friday night.
Penn State moves 11-11-3 on the season, and 3-9-3 in Big Ten play.
That was Penn State’s first win since Jan. 6th against Army, and its first Big Ten win since Dec. 2nd when it beat Minnesota.
Fink’s Big Second Period
On the same day that he was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award, the award given to the top player in NCAA Division I hockey, Fink turned in a 2-goal performance.
Fink scored both of his goals on the power play, as well as in the second period. Fink was able to swing the momentum for Penn State heading into the third period,
“I’ll tell you what, he had two of the best back checks we had all night… he is an all-around player.” Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky said, praising Fink on his performance not just tonight but all season.
Fink was named the first star of the game.
Vintage Souliere
Senior netminder Liam Souliere has had his fair share of struggles this season, after playing a pivotal role in the team’s big season just a year ago that saw a NCAA Tournament appearance, and was an OT period away from the Frozen Four.
Souliere turned in an 18-save performance Friday night, but his night went beyond just a number of saves.
Twice in the second period, Souliere was peppered with Ohio State shots, stopping everything that came his way. These sequences led to an eruption of cheers from the Hockey Valley faithful.
Souliere stood on his head late in the game, including a 6-on-4 push by Ohio State late in the third period with the game on the line, and helped Penn State hold on to the win.
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Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky has preached the importance of great goaltending in Big Ten play, and that is just what Souliere gave him Friday night.
Right Place, Right Time
The majority of the Nittany Lion scores Friday night were thanks to being in the right position on the ice.
Jarod Crespo took advantage of this as not once, but twice was Crespo able to find a Nittany Lion wide open on the other side of the net, picking up two assists, on Fink’s second score, and the other on Danny Dzhaniyev’s goal just under the halfway mark in the third period.
Fink was able to tuck a loose puck just past the skate of Ohio State goalie Kristoffer Eberly after a rebounded shot fell straight to him.
Similarly to Fink’s first score, Xander Lamppa netted Penn State’s first score of the night, after a loose puck found its way to Lamppa’s stick with a wide-open net ahead of him.
What’s Next for Penn State
The Nittany Lions will take on Ohio State on Saturday in their annual “Wear White” game at Pegula Ice Arena, with puck drop slated for 6:00 p.m.
