Penn State men’s hockey (12-13-3, 4-11-3 Big Ten) couldn’t stave off the sweep this weekend, falling 3-0 to No. 8 Minnesota (18-7-5, 11-5-4 Big Ten) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday afternoon.

After a strong first period by the Nittany Lions, Minnesota’s Aaron Huglen hammered home two one-timers to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead by the end of the second frame. Penn State couldn’t muster up a response and Mason Nevers grabbed a 3-0 goal before the game expired.

How It Happened

Penn State started the game on the right foot, firing off the first five shots of the tilt. A prime opportunity came in the first minute as Ryan Kirwan sent the puck toward the goal, which turned into a scramble for the puck. The Gophers piled up in the crease and denied the second chance shot. The Nittany Lions kept the grit up, winning battles for the puck on the boards and denying Minnesota a sniff of the goal through the first five minutes.

Minnesota was awarded the game’s first power play as Dane Dowiak was caught tripping Ryan Chesley at the blue line. Liam Souliere denied a prime low-slot opportunity from Olive Moore with a slick kick save to keep the Gophers off the board early in the penalty kill before Jacques Bouquot had an opportunity of his own. Justen Close gloved the shot and the penalty expired.

The Nittany Lions continued to pressure Minnesota at full strength, especially when the “kid line” was on the ice, outshooting Minnesota 11-9 through the end of the first period, but couldn’t get anything past Close before the buzzer sounded.

The Gophers began the second period in control, though, earning a turnover turned two-on-one in the neutral zone. Brody Lamb baited Souliere to the right before sending it to Aaron Huglen for a one-timer goal with 18:48 on the clock.

Penn State mustered up a strong response of its own in the offensive zone as Aiden Fink rung the iron on a laser from the mid-slot. The puck stayed loose in the zone and was tipped into the net, but not before the play was called dead for a Minnesota cross-check. The goal was waved off but the Nittany Lions would go on the man-advantage.

The Nittany Lions put six shots on the net but didn’t break through on their two-minute power play. Immediately after the penalty was released, the Gophers transitioned up ice and managed another odd-man rush. Huglen took another one-timer to extend the Minnesota lead to 2-0 just three minutes after his ice-breaker.

The rest of the period was back and forth, but Minnesota managed to keep Penn State off the board. The period expired with the Nittany Lions holding a 24-22 shot lead, but the Gophers kept a 15-14 lead at the face-off dot.

The beginning of the third period was physical, neither team could manage a controlled offensive as the puck went end to end along the boards. The Gophers conceded their second penalty with just over ten minutes to play as Bryce Brodzinski was called for hooking. Penn State didn’t threaten Minnesota on the advantage, though, missing the net on two errant shots in its two minutes.

Minnesota’s players seemed to have the puck glued to their sticks as Penn State’s defense couldn’t dispossess them in the game’s waning minutes. Mason Nevers waded through a flurry of poke checks en route to an open shot at the goalmouth to push the Gophers’ lead to 3-0.

Penn State pulled Souliere with just over two minutes to play, desperate to score a goal on the road trip. Xander Lamppa was sent to the box with a minute left for slashing, effectively neutralizing the Nittany Lions’ skater advantage and icing the game with a 3-0 final score.

Takeaways

• Penn State’s offense didn’t seem to travel with the team to Minneapolis. The Nittany Lions didn’t look up to the challenge as they were summarily locked out of high-danger areas on the ice the whole weekend. When they did get opportunities, they didn’t finish, and that killer instinct will need to make a return for the final matchups of the season.
• Souliere has been returning to form. His stalwart play kept the game close in the face of so many “guaranteed” opportunities for the Gophers in the low slot.
• The Nittany Lions played a great first period. They maintained a healthy shot lead and won the majority of puck battles along the boards. Moving forward, they must play a full game to dispatch Big Ten opponents.

What’s Next?

Penn State returns home to Pegula Ice Arena to play No. 11 Michigan in the penultimate home series of the year. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, February 16.