Jimmy Dowd Jr.’s power-play goal late in the third period pushed No. 6 Penn State past No. 17 Ohio State 2-1 Friday night at the Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State won at home against Ohio State for the first time since Nov. 2019.
Late in the first period, Penn State (14-3) drew first blood when Connor MacEachern scored four seconds into a power-play goal assisted by Jimmy Dowd Jr. and Kevin Wall. The preceding penalty was a highs-sticking call on Cam Theising.
Ohio State (9-7-1) controlled the flow of the play for most of the period playing more aggressively on offense and outshot Penn State 13-9 in the opening period.
But Penn State had the edge in faceoffs won 13-10. Ohio State had a power play opportunity when Penn State got called for a roughing penalty but failed to capitalize. Penn State started the second play on the power play but failed to capitalize for a second time. Penn State was in control of game action throughout the second period and even went back on another play but failed to capitalize. Ohio State tied the game at one when Cole McWard put a slapshot past Liam Souliere on an unassisted goal.
The game was tied at one after two periods, with Penn State outshot 13-10 in the second period and won the faceoff battle 18-7. Ohio State goaltender Jakub Dobes had a strong period making 13 saves. Penn State had a few odd-man rushes in the second period, but each time, Ohio State had a defender catch up in time to disrupt the opportunity.
At the beginning of the third period, Ohio State had a power play opportunity after the refs called Ben Schoen for high sticking, but Penn State made a massive penalty kill. Penn State got back on the power play in the middle of the third period when Scooter Brickey was called for a cross-checking minor penalty.
It capitalized with Dowd scoring the go-ahead goal with 5:31 left in the third period assisted by Wall and Connor McMenamin.
Ohio State made one more charge late in the game, pulling its goaltender with just under three minutes remaining, but Souliere held strong down the stretch as he made 35 saves.
Dobes had 30 saves for Ohio State.
The teams will face off again Saturday at Pegula Ice Arena.
Twitter: @bwalkerdadon
