It’s safe to say Penn State men’s hockey’s season hasn’t gotten off to an ideal start.

Following a series sweep at the hands of Minnesota to start the season, the Nittany Lions dropped two games to Wisconsin last week. Those two series sweeps have the Nittany Lions sitting at the bottom of the Big Ten with an 0-4 record.

“We haven’t coached well enough,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said Monday.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced teams across the country to adapt to unique situations. Coaches like Gadowsky, who rely on a more hands-on style, have faced a difficult learning curve to start the season.

“The goal to get better every week is extremely important wherever you start,” Gadowsky said. “I have to be a lot more effective in the mediums that we are allowed to coach in.”

The Nittany Lions are only four games into what’s scheduled as a 28-game regular season. Gadowsky stressed the importance of development not only this season but every season. Each game has shown the strengths and weaknesses of a young Penn State team that has had little time together outside of games.

The biggest struggle for Penn State this season has been on the defensive end. The Nittany Lions have allowed an average of five goals per game to start the season while scoring only nine.

After strong showings against Minnesota in the first series, both goaltenders, Oskar Autio and Liam Soulière, played poorly at Wisconsin. Autio, who played in game one, allowed six goals on 20 shots, while Soulière allowed seven goals on 27 shots in game two.

“If you talk to both goalies, they’ll be the first to tell you that they didn’t play well versus Wisconsin,” Gadowsky said.

Offensively, the big returners have struggled during the first four games. Alex Limoges, Sam Sternschien, and Aarne Talvitie, who were touted as Penn State’s big guns entering the season, have only one goal between them. Gadowsky thinks some of the troubles come from chemistry, or a lack of it.

“We didn’t have exhibition games, they didn’t have any ice time in the summer, they didn’t have a lot of coaching, to begin with. You have to develop some synergy,” Gadowsky said. “I don’t think it’s any accident that our best line to start the season has been the line that has played together before.”

Penn State’s most effective line to start the season has been the combination of Connor McMenamin, Kevin Wall, and Talvitie. Wall has been Penn State’s best forward thus far, notching three goals and one assist.

McMenamin and Talvitie only have two and one points, respectively, but have been handfuls for opposing defenses and are allowing Wall to finish off some of the chances he’s gotten. That line is the only returning forward group that’s played together before.

Limoges and Sternschien have played together on a line centered by Maine transfer Tim Doherty. Despite the talent all three players have, there is little chemistry and cohesion amongst them.

The last big sticking point for the Nittany Lions to start the season has been the special teams. Penn State sits bottom in the Big Ten in power play success rate (7.1%) and penalty kill success rate (63.6%). In both series to start the season, Penn State gave up some big power play goals at inopportune times that tilted the ice in favor of the opposition.

“We’ve been exploited in both defending the rush and defending in the zone and our power play hasn’t gotten it done,” Gadowsky said. “In all special teams, we have to do a better job and that’s a coaching issue.”

The start of the season doesn’t get any easier for Penn State. The Nittany Lions will host an extremely talented Michigan team at Pegula Ice Arena this week before ending phase one of the schedule against Arizona State.

Penn State’s series against Michigan will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.