Penn State hockey gets critical weekend sweep of Notre Dame

This past weekend marked the penultimate regular season series at Pegula Ice Arena. Just a few weeks ago, no one could have imagined how meaningful it would be for Penn State hockey. The Nittany Lions (16-11-3, 7-10-3 Big Ten) have spent the back half of the season on a tear, slowly chipping away at the mountainous climb back to postseason contention after an ice-cold start to the year.

Notre Dame came to Pegula amid its worst season since joining the Big Ten. A single loss to the Fighting Irish (9-20-1, 3-16-1) would derail the entire stretch run the Nittany Lions had put together. And history suggested, despite the records, it wouldn’t be a slam dunk that this would end in a sweep for the home team. After all, Penn State had never swept Notre Dame before. But that all changed on Friday and Saturday.

Penn State hockey avoids season-derailing collapse in game one

Invigorated to be back in front of the home crowd–another record one at that–the Nittany Lions came out firing on Friday night.

However, it took a while to show on the scoresheet. Penn State broke through with just about four minutes left in the first period. Aiden Fink and Reese Laubach played catch with each other on the rush in the offensive zone before Laubach deposited the puck into the net. 

Once the seal was broken, it didn’t take long for more. Just 41 seconds later, Matt DiMarsico redirected a floating puck from Simon Mack into the net.

To cap off the dominant period, Dane Dowiak knocked a loose puck into the crease to make it 3-0. Laubach collected an assist on the third goal, marking the sixth game in his last seven in which he has recorded multiple points since returning from injury a few weeks ago. 

The dominant period saw the home team head to the locker room up three goals and leading in shots 15-4.

But for all its struggles this season, Notre Dame would not go away quietly. The second period was more typical of what Fighting Irish hockey fans are used to seeing. Their stout neutral zone defense stifled the Nittany Lions and allowed the Irish to get on the front foot. By the time the period’s halfway mark rolled around, Notre Dame had already scored twice. All of a sudden, it was a one-goal game again. 

And late in the period, a Penn State penalty gave Notre Dame a chance to tie. But then, Dowiak poked the puck free at the point for a breakaway and scored a shorthanded goal with just three seconds left in the period to give Penn State hockey a two-goal lead again. At a time of year when special teams become increasingly important, that goal was the Nittany Lions’ fourth shorthanded goal in the last five games. 

Heading to the break up 4-2 would prove to be huge. Less than a minute into the third period, Notre Dame capitalized on the resumed power play, making it a 4-3 game. 

The Pegula crowd would be enthralled in a nail-biter until Cade Christenson iced the game with an empty net goal late in the third. 

Despite not being at its best after the dominant first period, Penn State hockey found a way to gut out a win and avoid a season-derailing loss. 

Nittany Lions survive another nail-biter for first-ever sweep of the Fighting Irish

On Saturday, the game started out much slower for Penn State, looking like the later periods of the prior night’s game. But again, late in the period, the Nittany Lions found a way to break through with another odd-man rush, as Fink found Danny Dzhaniyev for a one-timer.

Early in the second period, Notre Dame tied the score 1-1 after Reese Laubach was ejected from the contest for high sticking. There wasn’t much action for the remainder of the period until an innocent-looking shot from Dzhaniyev at the point was redirected by Nicholas DeGraves to give Penn State a 2-1 advantage, one the Nittany Lions held until the intermission. 

Just about five minutes into the final frame, it was Notre Dame’s turn to have a player ejected, setting up a long Penn State power play. The Lions wouldn’t need long, however, to cash in. Only a few seconds into the advantage, Fink fired one home from his patented spot right above the faceoff circle. The massive goal was Fink’s 44th of the season, giving him sole possession of first place for the most points in the nation. As the stretch run continues, Fink’s chances for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the nation’s top NCAA ice hockey player, continue to rise.

Notre Dame answered with a shorthanded goal a few minutes later. Another one-goal game, it was time to bite nails once again at Pegula. But the Nittany Lions were able to close the door and walk away with a 3-2 win and their first-ever sweep of the Fighting Irish. 

Penn State looking for statement win this weekend

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

While an important weekend, Penn State hockey mostly held serve in the national picture. The Nittany Lions finished the weekend where they began in the PairWise rankings, sitting at No. 16.

This coming weekend, however, is quite the opposite opportunity for Penn State. The Nittany Lions will head to East Lansing to take on Michigan State, who sits at No. 2 in the PairWise. The task will be far from easy, but picking up even a single win would move Penn State to the right side of the postseason bubble, a place the program hasn’t been all season.

Puck drop at Munn Ice Arena for this crucial series is set for 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

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