No. 12 Penn State Mens Hockey (4-0-0) beat American International (0-4-0) Friday Night in a 3-2 showdown at The Pegula Ice Arena in front of a rocking crowd of 6,170.
First Period:
Guy Gadowsky’s team got off to a quiet yet in-control first period. The Nittany Lions outshot the Yellow Jackets 12-5 while winning the faceoff battle 12-5. Despite the disparity the surging offense failed to score, resulting in the first period ending scoreless.
Second Period:
Ryan Kirwan got the motor going for Penn State’s Offense with a front-of-the-net top-shelf goal to give them their first lead of the night, 1-0, at the 2:50 mark in the second period.
Penn State would once again win the shots battle again in the second period, this time outshooting American International 20-6. DespitebBeing on the power play twice this period, the Nittany Lions would enter the dressing room down 2-1 at the end of the second period.
Third Period:
The Nittany Lions would finally score on the power play with Aiden Fink’s wrister from close range tying the game at two goals apiece at the 3:19 mark of the third period.
Scoring opportunities kept knocking on the Nittany Lions’ Door, and Tanner Palocsik answered with a laser beam from the center of the attacking zone to put Penn State back in the lead for good with 4:03 left in the third period.
Goaltender Stats:
Liam Souliere would end the night with a save percentage of .833, only allowing two goals in the second period, one being shorthanded. Souliere would also end the night with ten total saves. Souliere improved his record to 4-0-0 on the season.
Next Game:
The Penn State Nittany Lions continue their six-pack homestand on Saturday, October 21st, as they finish their two-game series with American International at The Pegula Ice Arena at 5 pm.
