Kevin Wall scored the game winning goal in overtime as Penn State forces a game three with Ohio State in the Big Ten playoffs, with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night at the Value City Arena.
Early in the game, the teams went back and forth, with Penn State controlling the action. Ohio State was on its heels, but Ohio State had scoring opportunities. Liam Souliere made a nice stop, but Ohio State started to control the action.
The play started to be a little more physical and borderline chippy. Ohio State got the first power play opportunity of the game when Xander Lampa got called for tripping, but Penn State killed the penalty. Penn State went on its’ first power play of the game when Cole McWard got called for hooking, but Ohio State killed the penalty.
There was no score at the end of the first period. Penn State had the 10-8 shot advantage, but Ohio State won the faceoff battle 13-12.
Penn State started the second period by being the more aggressive team and forced a penalty when Dalton Messina got called for interference, but Ohio State killed the penalty. The second period had back-and-forth action as the second period went uneventful despite both teams getting good chances at the net.
Souliere and Jakub Dobes were making great saves throughout the first two periods. Ohio State got back on the power play when Ashton Calder got called for holding, but Penn State killed the penalty. Late in the second period Jimmy Dowd of Penn State got called for a five-minute major penalty for slashing.
The game remained a scoreless tie through two periods. Ohio State outshot Penn State 29-21 and won the face-off battle 29-21 through two periods.
The third period began with Ohio State having three minutes remaining on its power play, but thanks to Souliere’s efforts behind the net, Penn State killed the penalty. The third period went on with a team going on back and forth, but Ohio State kept applying pressure after the penalty. Ohio State went back on the power play when Tyler Gratton got called for indirect contact to the head, but Penn State once again killed the penalty.
Penn State had a scoring opportunity when it got a couple of shots on goal but didn’t capitalize. Penn State finally broke the scoreless tie when Lampa scored on a beautiful pass from Ryan Kirwan. Ohio State tied it up when Joe Dunlap scored on a scrum that was assisted by Tyler Duke.
Penn State and Ohio State were tied at one at the end of regulation.
Both teams went back and forth in overtime getting multiple scoring opportunities, but Wall managed to get a good look at the net and scored on a wrist shot assisted by Connor McEchern and Dylan Gratton at 10:35 into overtime.
Souliere was the star of the game by recording 55 saves on 56 shots.
Penn State and Ohio State will face off Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Value City Arena.
