Kevin Wall scored two goals, including the game-winner with 2:20 left as Penn State came up with a huge win over Ohio State 4-3 Friday night at the Ohio State Ice Rink.
Penn State (19-9-1) struck first five minutes into the game on Wall’s first goal. It was his team-leading 13th goal of the season— assisted by Christian Berger— that went five-hole on Jakub Dobes. The action was uneventful until Mason Lohrei got called for slashing, and Penn State went on the Power Play. But Ohio State killed the penalty.
Penn State doubled its lead when Connor MacEachern scored on an odd-man rush, assisted by Tyler and Dylan Gratton. Ohio State cut the deficit in half when Tate Singleton scored, assisted by Stephen Halladay and James Marooney.
Although there weren’t a lot of shots (16 total) taken in the period, the pace was fast and frenetic.
Penn State led 2-1 at the end of the first period, outshooting Ohio State 9-7. Each team won 10 face offs.
The second period was uneventful. Penn State spent more time in the Ohio State defensive zone and was eventually rewarded when MacEachern scored his second goal of the game, assisted by Simon Mack. Noah Grannan, who stepped in for Louis Souliere in goal Friday, was making some clutch saves until Davis Burnside scored on a goal assisted by Singleton and Halladay. Penn State went back on the power play when CJ Regula got called for cross-checking, but Ohio State killed the penalty.
Penn State led 3-2 at the end of the second period.
Penn State controlled the action when until it took its first penalty when Danny Dzhaniyev got called for interference. But Penn State came up with a critical penalty kill. The team went back on the power play when Joe Dunlap got called for interference, but Ohio State killed that penalty.
Ohio State went back on the power play when Jay Crespo got called for cross-checking. This time, Ohio State capitalized toward the end of the power play when Jack Wise scored to tie the game, assisted by Lohrei and Halliday. Penn State took the lead when Wall scored his second goal of the game on a give-and-go assisted by Carter Shade.
Penn State snaps its five-game road winless streak with the win. Penn State won despite being outshot 35-26.
Penn State and Ohio State will finish their series Saturday evening. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m.
Twitter: @bwalkerdadon
