Penn State men’s hockey (13-11-3, 4-10-3 Big Ten) defeated No. 19 Wisconsin (11-15-3, 6-12-1 Big Ten) 1-0) 2-0 in game one of its weekend series against the Badgers.

Arsenii Sergeev bounced back to deliver a stellar performance in the shutout win. The goaltender secured a 25-save shutout with multiple key saves in the third period. Reese Laubach scored the winning goal early in the first period, and Aiden Fink iced it with an empty net goal late in the third period.

How It Happened

Thirty-eight seconds in, Cody Laskosky was sprung on a breakaway with a chance that Sergeev saved, but Fink took a penalty on the shot that sent the Badgers to the power play. Penn State delivered a strong kill and allowed just one shot over the two-minute advantage.

Shortly after, Penn State went on the attack in its offensive end and was awarded. Fink fired a shot that Tommy Scarfone saved with his shoulder, but the puck deflected behind the netminder and Reese Laubach cleaned up the rebound to put the Nittany Lions ahead.

Ryland Mosley caught Charlie Cerrato up high on a hit in Penn State’s defensive zone, and a review determined there was dangerous contact to the head. Mosley was ejected from the game and the Nittany Lions were awarded a five-minute power play after the penalty was assessed.

On the ensuing power play, Wisconsin suffocated the Nittany Lions’ attack and allowed just one shot during the five-minute advantage.

With four minutes remaining in the period, Braedon Ford exited the game after the forward was awarded a major penalty for head contact. Penn State killed the first four minutes of the advantage with ease, and Wisconsin headed back to the dressing room with one minute remaining in its power play.

Wisconsin won the opening faceoff to begin the second period, but could not get anything going in the final minute of its advantage, and the teams returned to full strength with Penn State ahead by one goal.

Casey Aman headed to the box for hooking with just over five minutes elapsed, and Wisconsin went back to the man advantage. Despite an improved effort from the Badgers, Sergeev made multiple key saves and Penn State survived to kill the penalty.

At the midway point, Penn State began to get its offensive legs as the Nittany Lions had multiple scoring chances from the slot. However, Scarfone made a pair of strong saves with his pads, and Wisconsin cleared the zone.

After a failed three-on-one scoring opportunity from Penn State, Tyson Dyck received a long pass from the Penn State end of the ice and was sprung on a breakaway. The forward attempted to beat Sergeev five-hole, but Penn State’s netminder made the save to keep his team on top with five minutes remaining in the period.

With just over three minutes left, Logan Hensler took a hooking penalty and sent Penn State to the power play. Like the earlier edition of its power play, Penn State could not capitalize and the teams returned to full strength.

Just over three minutes into the final period of regulation, Penn State nearly doubled its lead. Laubach and Fink rushed up the ice on a two-on-one, where Laubach elected to shoot. Scarfone made a dazzling glove save, and Wisconsin cleared the zone.

Quinn Finley sat for interference just one minute later, and Penn State headed to its third power play of the evening. Once again, Wisconsin delivered a strong effort on its penalty kill to keep its defecit at one goal.

Just past the midway point in the period, Wisconsin was awarded a power play after Jason Gallucci sat for tripping. Penn State allowed just one shot on the penalty kill, and the teams returned to full strength.

Right after the penalty to Gallucci expired, Penn State headed to the power play as Joe Palodichuk sat for tripping. The Nittany Lions delivered their best power play of the evening, but a few key saves from Scarfone kept them off the board.

After extended time in the offensive zone, Wisconsin elected to pull Scarfone for an extra skater as it searched for the game-tying goal. With 45 seconds, Fink fired a long shot from the Penn State defensive end into the empty net to secure the win for Penn State.

Takeaways

• After a rough series against Michigan, Sergeev rebounded in a big way to secure Penn State the win. The goaltender secured a 25-save shutout and was perfect on the penalty kill. With the victory, Sergeev now has 10 wins with the Nittany Lions.
• Despite the win and its success on the penalty kill, Penn State struggled with the man advantage. The Nittany Lions went 0-4 on the power play and recorded just three shots during their opportunities.
• Penn State did not play its best hockey tonight, but the team battled to deliver a ranked win on the road during its most critical stretch of the season. The Nittany Lions need every point they can get at this point in the season, and winning games like these go a long way.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions take on Wisconsin in the final game of a two-game set, with puck drop set for 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 8. Additionally, the game will be streamed on BTN+.