Penn State hockey picks up season-changing sweep at Wisconsin

Another weekend, another road trip, and another situation where Penn State hockey needed to scrape out at least a single win to keep its postseason hopes alive. And it was another tall task. The Nittany Lions headed to Madison, Wisconsin, to take on a ranked Badgers squad last weekend – a team they hadn’t beaten in nearly two years. But backs against the wall yet again, the Blue and White found a way, sweeping the series.

Sergeev blanks Badgers for Friday night shutout

Friday’s game was not for fans of high-scoring, high-event hockey. The low-scoring affair was a bit of a surprise since when these two teams met in November, Wisconsin won both games in 5-4 and 6-3 barnburners.

At least to start, game one looked to be on a similar pace to the November series. Just about three minutes into the game, Reese Laubach poked home a loose puck that was sitting behind the Badgers goaltender Tommy Scarfone to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead.

That single goal was all Penn State hockey would need, although Aiden Fink added an empty netter with under a minute to go in the third period. The goal was Fink’s 20th of the year, the most a Nittany Lion has scored in a single season since Alex Limoges netted 23 during the 2018-19 campaign.

However, the real story of this game was Penn State goaltender Arsenii Sergeev. In his first year as a Nittany Lion after transferring from UConn, Sergeev had the most impressive weekend of his career and perhaps the best weekend a Penn State goaltender has ever had. 

Sergeev stopped a perfect 25-25 shots on Friday, many of which were high-danger chances for Wisconsin. To say Penn State was hemmed in in its own zone was an understatement. Through the first two periods the Nittany Lions were outshot 22-12. 

Penn State hockey gets out the brooms on Wisconsin

A key cog in Penn State’s win in game one, Sergeev wasn’t done just yet.

However, things didn’t start quite the same for the Nittany Lions on Saturday. Wisconsin broke the ice on a powerplay about midway through the first period.

Trailing for the first time in the series, it wouldn’t take Penn State hockey long to answer. Charlie Cerrato won an offensive zone faceoff, setting up a shot for Cade Christenson, who rocketed one into the Badger net to tie the game at one. The score marked the first collegiate goal for the freshman defenseman. 

The first period was more evenly matched than any part of Friday’s game, giving Sergeev a bit of a break. His heavy lifting was still to come. 

Penn State would take a lead early in the second when Reese Laubach finished off a pass for Danny Dzhaniyev in front to give the Nittany Lions a 2-1 lead.

That is when Sergeev began to stand on his head again. That goal was one of only five shots that Penn State hockey would have in the middle frame, compared to Wisconsin’s 22. The Badgers controlled the puck and had Penn State pinned for nearly the entire period.

Wisconsin did almost everything right. The one thing the Badgers didn’t do? Score.

The second period was probably the most impressive period a Penn State goaltender has ever had. The struggles of previous Nittany Lion netminders are well documented. The program has never had a goalie with the ability to steal a game. But Guy Gadowsky finally found one, he displayed that ability in both games this weekend. 

Penn State got some insurance to open the third period. Almost like a wide receiver on a go route, Laubach skated behind the Wisconsin defense, collected an aerial flip pass from Dzhaniyev, and scored blocker-high to complete the highlight reel goal. 

But a team like the Badgers is not going to go away quietly. Just about two minutes after the insurance goal, Wisconsin finally beat Sergeev and pulled back within one on a power play. 

The ice started to tilt back toward the Wisconsin end as the home team desperately searched for an equalizer. But it was Penn State that got the subsequent powerplay, and the Nittany Lions matched Wisconsin’s tally with a Matt DiMarsico wrister from the slot.

Then the wheels started falling off for the Badgers, taking two penalties in quick succession. On the ensuing five-on-three powerplay, Cerrato salted the game away with another goal. Finally, Aiden Fink would tip in another empty netter, pulling within two goals of Alex Limoges’ record.

It might seem odd to point to the goaltender in a 6-2 victory, but yet again Sergeev was the sole reason Penn State hockey even had a chance to win this game. Without his performances, it is likely the Nittany Lions gets swept–not the other way around.

Penn State welcomes Irish to Pegula

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2025.

The results were massive for the Nittany Lions in their hunt to get back into the NCAA Tournament picture. Penn State now sits at No. 16 in the PairWise, firmly on the bubble. While 16 teams make the tournament, the 13-14 range is often considered to be safe given bid stealers that will eventually pop in conference tournaments around the country.

While there is still work to do and a tough schedule ahead, Penn State hockey is immensely better off than it was at the start of January.

The stretch run continues for Penn State back at Pegula Ice Arena this weekend against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish are in the midst of their worst year since joining the Big Ten in 2017-18. With the Irish at No. 44 in the Pairwise, Penn State cannot afford a loss this weekend. Puck drop is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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