Penn State hockey (7-8-0, 5-8-0 Big Ten) dropped a hard-fought game to No. 12 Wisconsin (9-6-0, 7-4-0 Big Ten) 4-1 at Pegula Ice Arena on Thursday evening.

Kevin Wall had Penn State’s lone goal of the game and Oskar Autio was impressive in net again making 26 saves. Ty Pelton-Byrce, Matthieu De St. Phalle, Cole Caufield and Dominick Mersch all scored one for Wisconsin. Cameron Rowe was also great in goal for Wisconsin, making 45 saves in the win.

How It Happened

The game got off a hot start when Cole Caufield hit the pipe 15 seconds in, quickly followed by a Connor McMenamin chance on the other side of the ice. The Nittany Lions were then sent on the power play two minutes into the game when Ryder Donovan was sent to the box for slashing. Rowe saw his first big action of the game, making a big double save during a scramble in front of the net to help kill off the Nittany Lions’ man advantage.

The period continued at a fast pace with both teams playing some high-quality, end-to-end hockey. Wisconsin was awarded its first power play 8:22 into the period when Sam Sternschien was sent to the box for interference. The poignant Badger power play was unable to find the back of the net, but Sternschien was sent to box as soon as he got out for the same penalty he committed the first time.

The ensuing power play became a 5-on-3 for 48 seconds after Alex Stevens joined Sternschien in the sin bin for holding. The 5-on-3 was unsuccessful but immediately as that ended, Pelton-Byrce’s shot found the roof of the net behind Autio for the Wisconsin power-play goal and the 1-0 lead with 6:53 left in the period.

Autio would be tested heavily as the ice tilted in favor of the Badgers. He was beaten again with three minutes left in the first frame, when De St. Phalle sniped a shot high blocker side on Autio for the 2-0 Wisconsin lead. Connor MacEachern hit the crossbar right after the goal. Penn State was then given a power play with 1:10 remaining in the period when Mike Vorlicky was sent to the box for boarding. That would be the notable final action of the period as Wisconsin lead 2-0 after one period. Penn State had the slight advantage in shots 11-9.

Penn State started the second frame with the man advantage for 50 seconds. The Nittany Lions didn’t have enough time to set up the power play and the Badgers killed it off with ease. Ten seconds after the man advantage, a tight angle shot from Wall found a way through Rowe and into the back of the net to cut the Wisconsin lead to 2-1.

The Nittany Lions began to pour it on the Badgers, creating multiple odd-man advantages in transition. As time went on, the game slowly began to tilt back in favor of the Badgers after multiple, long sustaining periods of offensive zone pressure. The game began to ramp up physically as the second period went on, with both sides laying massive hits and scrapping a lot after the whistle.

Some of the post-whistle festivities led to a Wisconsin power play with 8:23 left in the period when Wall was sent to the box for a relatively unfair roughing call. Wisconsin poured it on but Autio was up to the task, helping Penn State kill off the man advantage and return to full strength.

The period remained uneventful until Talvitie hobbled his way into the locker room after hitting the end boards hard, leaving Penn State without a leader and one of its most electric forwards. With one minute left in the period, Sternschien made his way to the box for the third time in the game, this time for hooking. Wisconsin didn’t score on the man advantage as the period ended with Wisconsin leading 2-1. Penn State still had a slight edge in shots 26-24.

Talvitie returned for the third period as Wisconsin started the third period with a power play for one minute. The Badgers didn’t sniff the offensive zone as Penn State strongly killed off the power play. Badger captain Ty Emberson was sent to the box with 14:22 left, leading to another power play in the game. Penn State’s power play couldn’t produce again, as Wisconsin killed it off with ease again.

The Penn State offense started to pour it on the Badgers, but Wisconsin did an excellent job of limiting the Nittany Lions, especially by blocking passing lanes. Penn State would go to the box again though with 6:47 left in the period when Mason Snell was called for hooking. That would lead to Cole Caufield finding the insurance marker as the Montreal Canadians top prospect sniped a shot past Autio from the slot for the 3-1 lead with just under six minutes left in the game.

Penn State was given a glimmer of hope when Mersch was called for slashing shortly after the Badger goal, sending Penn State on another power play. Autio went to the bench with four minutes left in the game but Mersch made his way out of the box and buried the empty netter with 3:19 left in the game for the 4-1 lead. That would seal the game as Wisconsin walked out of Pegula 4-1 winners on the night. Penn State lead in shots on the night in shots 46-30.

Takeaways

• It’s been hard to doubt Autio over the recent span of games and this game was no different. He was again massive for Penn State, making multiple big saves on the high powered Wisconsin offense. Autio is the number one goalie, there is no doubt about that. Each game he keeps proving more and more he is worthy of the crease that the great Peyton Jones’ occupied for the last four years.
• Playing a man down for long stretches of the game isn’t a formula for winning, especially against Wisconsin. Extended power plays give Cole Caufield, Dylan Halloway, and Linus Weiesbach the chance to do their thing against the Nittany Lion penalty killers. You can’t score if you’re stuck defending and the penalties really killed momentum for Penn State during parts of the game.
• Increased physicality is something that’s been a trend this season, but this game was a new level. Both teams were laying massive hits and enjoying some post whistle festivities after about every save. I think it comes from the lack of fans in an arena and the need to find your own way to hype you and your team up. Either way, it leads to more entertaining and energizing hockey games.

What’s Next

The Nittany Lions and Badgers will face off again on Friday evening at Pegula. Puck drop is scheduled for 6 p.m and the game will be broadcast on BTN+.