No. 5 Penn State men’s hockey (2-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten) rallied back from a third period deficit to take down No. 14 Arizona State (0-2-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten) by a score of 4-2 at Mullet Arena in Tempe, AZ, finishing off a series sweep.

Penn State was down 2-0 after two periods and couldn’t stay out of the penalty box, but a big shorthanded goal by Nic Chin-DeGraves sparked a four-goal third period, with freshman phenom Gavin McKenna picking up his first collegiate goal on the power play at the 18:07 mark of the third period in what would go down as the game-winning goal.

How It Happened

The series opener saw frantic action for 60 minutes, as both teams tried to set the tone for their season. To start the series finale, both teams looked to feel each other out, and we saw fewer high-danger chances early.

Just over four minutes in, Penn State was able to get its first consistent pressure in the offensive zone, although good defense kept them away from the crease. By the six-minute mark, Penn State already had nine shots on goal.

At the 6:57 mark, Arizona State’s Kyle Smolen got a one-timer to the right of the net, but was stopped by Kevin Reidler. The first power play of the game would come at the 8:30 mark, as Shea Van Olm would go off for a puzzling cross-check in the offensive zone.

The Sun Devils got some clean looks early in the power play, but shot them wide. Gavin McKenna got some time on the penalty kill and even got an opportunity on the other end, but he missed the net. Arizona State got zero shots on net on their first power play. ASU got a partial breakaway at the 11-minute mark, but Reidler made the save.

The best chance of the early going came from the McKenna-Aiden Fink connection, as the two broke into the offensive zone and Fink got a one-timer off at 12:35, but it hit off the post.

A couple of minutes of quiet action preceded a back-and-forth sequence that saw McKenna nearly pot one from in close on one end, but Reidler had to make a big save in close on Carmelo Crandall at the 17:03 mark.

Both goaltenders were stout in the first, combining for 23 saves and the first completely scoreless period of both teams’ seasons.

It wouldn’t take long in the second period for someone to strike, as Bennett Schimek ripped one past Reidler on a three-on-one at the 2:18 mark of the period to make it 1-0 Arizona State.

The big push for the equalizer would come about six minutes in, as Penn State held possession in the offensive zone and attempted six shots over the next 30 seconds, but several would get blocked, and a big chance by Charlie Cerrato went off the side of the net. The constant pressure eventually boiled over into a penalty, which would be taken by ASU’s Logan Morrell at the 7:13 mark for interference.

Penn State got a few chances, including a long shot by McKenna going wide, but would be shut down and not able to get a puck through to Connor Hasley.

The next big chance came at 11:42, when a keep-in by Nolan Collins and a beautiful feed from the point by McKenna led to a golden opportunity for Fink down low, but it was smothered by Hasley.

Penn State was threatening to tip the scales of this one in the next couple minutes with consistent zone time and several shot attempts, but the next goal would come from Arizona State, as a breakout following a McKenna giveaway turned into a goal. Cruz St. Lucius would slip behind a trio of Nittany Lions and beat Reidler with a backhander over his right shoulder to make it 2-0 at the 14:19 in the second period.

The two-goal deficit started to wear on Penn State, who was desperately trying to flip the momentum. Fink went off for interference at 16:55. A couple quick shots for ASU threatened to extend the lead to three, but their over-aggressiveness worked against them when it sprung a 2-on-1 the other way, where Nic Chin-DeGraves nearly potted a shorthanded goal, but Hasley got just enough of it to keep it out of the net.

Despite another big chance at 19:01 by Reese Laubach, Hasley was a brick wall through two periods, with 27 saves and keeping the Nittany Lions at a two-goal deficit.

In the first two minutes of the third period, the Penn State top-six pushed hard to get on the board and generated several chances. Their best chance came at the 1:15 mark, when Mac Gadowsky delivered a spinning pass onto the tape of JJ Wiebusch, who hit the post with a wide-open net in front of him.

The intensity was maintained for the Nittany Lions, who were able to draw a penalty at 2:58 and get their second power play, but once again, Arizona State kept them to the perimeter and blocked multiple shots. Ultimately, the power play would come to an end after 65 seconds when McKenna got frustrated after being bumped off the puck and went off for cross-checking, his first collegiate penalty.

After 55 seconds of four-on-four time, the two teams got dueling minors after Matt DiMarsico got called for goaltender interference, but Arizona State’s Anthony Dowd, brother of former Penn State defenseman Jimmy Dowd Jr., retaliated and went off for cross-checking.

On the ASU power play for the McKenna penalty, Nick Fascia was able to get the puck out of the deep end to Dane Dowiak, who pushed the puck out of the defensive zone to Chin-DeGraves. With Jarod Crespo helping clear the way on a two-on-two, the sophomore forward ripped a wrister past Hasley for the team’s first shorthanded goal of the season at 5:29 of the third period to make it 2-1.

One-goal game in Tempe!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/DLhffF2JMN

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 5, 2025

The Nittany Lions killed off the rest of the penalty and, with the momentum on their side, were able to tie the score. Cerrato won a faceoff in the offensive zone and DiMarsico immediately moved the puck to a cutting Wiebusch in front, who snuck it through the five hole for the equalizer at 8:30. Just like that, on Wiebusch’s first goal of the year, we’re tied at two.

Now, THAT'S BEAUTY!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/wcOkAvlt1u

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 5, 2025

Despite the momentum firmly in hand, Penn State couldn’t stay out of the box. Cerrato went off just 34 seconds after the goal for hooking, and after a pair of saves by Reidler, Casey Aman went off for tripping just 52 seconds after the Cerrato penalty to set up a 5-on-3 for Arizona State for over a minute.

Multiple broken sticks and nearly two full minutes of zone time gave Arizona State every chance to take the lead, but the Nittany Lions were able to miraculously kill off both penalties with steady defense, thanks to six saves by Reidler.

Despite getting new life with the two penalty kills, Penn State couldn’t get out of their own way. A breakaway by Morrell was stopped by Morrell, but a subsequent boarding call on Ben Schoen at 12:27 once again gave the Sun Devils a power play.

This time, Penn State’s defense was able to make some plays in front of Reidler, deflecting pucks and even turning up ice at one point for a McKenna shot on goal. Another kill made Arizona State 0-for-6 on power plays.

Both teams were sloppy with the puck in front of their own nets in the next couple of minutes, but neither side was able to capitalize. At 17:14, though, Arizona State committed a cardinal sin, as Dowd caught Schoen with an elbow up high. A major penalty review was held, but the officials settled on a two-minute minor that gave Penn State a power play.

Giving this power play an extra opportunity is never a good idea. After some sloppy passes for the first minute of the power play, the puck found McKenna at the right faceoff dot and he sniped it over the left shoulder of Hasley for his first collegiate goal, assisted by Fink and Gadowsky at 18:07 to make it 3-2 Nittany Lions on the power play.

FORKS DOWN!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/T4SiHDHh0t

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 5, 2025

Arizona State immediately emptied its net to get the extra attacker. The next 90 seconds would see a mad scramble by the Sun Devils come up empty, as Reidler would make a pair of saves, and the fourth line would do their job. Off a faceoff in the final 20 seconds, Dowiak sniped an empty netter from center ice to ice a 4-2 victory for the Nittany Lions.

Takeaways

• Jarod Crespo returned to the lineup after being helped off the ice in the second period last night. With Jackson Smith still sidelined with an illness and Cade Christenson out for the foreseeable future, it’s a big relief for the Nittany Lions.
• Gavin McKenna was quiet for much of the night outside of a second-period penalty. That said, there was no better time to pick up his first career goal. After the goal, he delivered a “Forks Down” to the Arizona State student section that booed him all series and chanted “overrated” various times tonight.
• Kevin Reidler was unbelievable all series. He allowed all five of his goals in the second period, but ultimately finished with 80 saves across the two games. He made multiple huge saves to keep the team in the game before the third-period onslaught.
• After committing nine penalties Friday night, Penn State committed another seven today. The penalty kill might be 11-for-12 in the series, including a big 68-second 5-on-3 kill, but they need to clean that up going forward. ASU missed many chances.
• In the series, Penn State outscored Arizona State 10-0 in the first and third periods, but was outscored 0-5 in the second period.

Up Next

Penn State will head back east for its home opener against Clarkson at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, October 9, at Pegula Ice Arena. The game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.