University Park, PA – No. 11 USCHO/No. 12 NPI Wisconsin needed one point to secure the No. 4 seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
It got it in style tonight at the Pegula Ice Arena as the Badgers get their first win of the season against No. 5 NPI/ No. 6 USCHO Penn State 7-3.
In the opening period, Penn State struck first Cade Christenson finished a play off from the high slot with assists from JJ Wiebusch and Ben Schoen, who made an excellent play to maintain possession of the puck to give the Nittany Lions a 1–0 lead.
Wisconsin answered just under three minutes later, as Quinn Finley tied the game at 1–1 after converting a feed from Blake Montgomery and Joe Palodichuk.
Shortly after the equalizer, Wisconsin’s Tyson Dyck was called for slashing against Aiden Fink, leaving the Penn State forward briefly grabbing his wrist.
The penalty proved costly.
Ten seconds into the ensuing power play, freshman sensation Gavin McKenna buried his 14th goal of the season off assists from Jackson Smith and Matt DiMarsico to restore Penn State’s lead at 2–1.
Wisconsin head coach Mike Hastings immediately challenged the play for goaltender interference involving JJ Wiebusch and Badgers goaltender Daniel Hauser. Officials ruled Wiebusch never entered the crease, allowing the goal to stand.
The tally also carried historic significance for McKenna, whose 47 points this season tied the Penn State freshman record previously set by Denis Smirnov during the 2016–17 campaign.
Penn State controlled much of the first period, outshooting Wisconsin 15–9.
Wisconsin bounced back early in the second period when Vasily Zelenov capitalized on a strange bounce two minutes into the period to tie the game at 2–2. Moments later, freshman Grady Deering gave the Badgers their first lead of the night, finishing a rush with assists from Adam Pietila and Jack Phelan.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The game turned physical midway through the period when Montgomery was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for cross-checking after striking Schoen in the neck.
Penn State’s extended power-play opportunity lost momentum when DiMarsico was whistled for interference during the advantage, an infraction that appeared to be aided by a Wisconsin player losing his stick, allowing the Badgers to escape the major penalty without surrendering a goal.
However, the Nittany Lions found a response late in the frame.
With just over a minute remaining in the second period, Fink, who was skating in his 100th career game for Penn State, slipped a shot past Hauser to tie the contest at 3–3 heading into the final period.
Wisconsin took advantage when Simon Tassy got the successful wrap around on Fleming to give Wisconsin a 4–3 edge.
Just over two minutes later, Wisconsin got another favorable rebound on Fleming when Ryan Botterill got his ninth of the season to give the Badgers a two-goal advantage.
Late in the final stanza, Wisconsin drove the nail in the coffin for Penn State as Adam Pietila scores, celebrating as the Penn State faithful began to hit the exits.
After Penn State got a too many men on the ice penalty creating a 5-on-3, Wisconsin’s Ben Dexheimer and Finley set up Quinn Morrissey to go up 7-3.
Just as the game was going to expire, Lev Katzin hit Grady Deering that earned him a 10-minute misconduct.
Penn State was outshot in the final period 18-6.
The 2025-26 regular season concludes tomorrow at the Pegula Ice Arena with White Out conditions as Penn State looks to improve their NPI standings against Wisconsin. Puck drops at 7 PM.
