Euphoria to Heartbreak: Penn State falls short in pivotal final home stand

Across the nation, college hockey often takes a backseat as a niche event to the bigger sports on campus. But last weekend, Penn State hockey was center stage in Happy Valley. 

Between Friday’s “Wear White” game and the overall stakes of the series, the buzz in State College leading up to the weekend was palpable. It also helps when the No. 2 team in the country, Minnesota, was lining up opposite the Nittany Lions. 

It was a remarkable feat that this series had any shred of meaning, nevermind one of the most significant in program history. Just seven weeks ago, the Nittany Lions found themselves 0-8-1 in conference play and buried in the the PairWise rankings. In other words, the season was dead.

But a run that can only be described as miraculous, Penn State hockey entered the weekend playing for its NCAA Tournament life in front of one of the most raucous crowds in Pegula Ice Arena’s history. To stay alive, the Nittany Lions needed at least one win while also avoiding a regulation loss at all costs. In the end, the results were mixed.

Penn State wins overtime thriller

After playing for months without any major stakes, the pressure of this series appeared to get to the Nittany Lions. The nerves allowed an experienced Minnesota squad to jump all over Penn State and score a goal less than three minutes into Friday’s game.

The Gophers looked as advertised for much of the first period, a true national title contender. They dominated the period, but just like many weekends this year, goaltender Arsenii Sergeev kept the Nittany Lions in the game.

In the second, Penn State handled the aggressive Minnesota forecheck better and used its transition game. It was one of these transition opportunities where Matt DiMarsico sniped a wrister past Liam Souliere, his former Nittany Lion teammate, to tie up the game. 

The crowd wouldn’t have to wait long to let the transfer Souliere hear them again. Just 46 seconds after the first goal, JJ Wiebusch cleaned up a bouncing puck in front to give the Nittany Lions their first lead of the series and flip the game on its head.

However, what has become a storyline this season is Penn State’s penalty problems. The Lions took three in the middle frame. It was the last one that cost them, as Minnesota was able to steal momentum back with a late power play goal, tying the game at two.

Early in the third period, it was rare Gopher disciplinary lapses that gave Penn State two back-to-back power play opportunities. After failing to convert on the first, Danny Dzhaniyev didn’t let the second go to waste with a long wrister that deflected off a Minnesota stick and in. Now, with just about ten minutes to play, Penn State hockey led.

But Minnesota again had an answer. In a rare goal that Sergeev would like back, Gophers tied the game just about two minutes after Penn State took the lead. 

Fittingly, this back and forth game headed to overtime. The extra session was controlled entirely by the Blue and White. Simon Mack had two great opportunities to end from the slot, but missed both. However, the captain earned a third opportunity after blowing by a Minnesota skater. He didn’t miss this time, ending the game. 

The game going beyond regulation meant Penn State hockey only earned two out of a possible three points in the Big Ten standings from the win. Combined with Michigan’s victory earlier in the day, it locked the Nittany Lions in for a road series in Ann Arbor for the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals next weekend.

Nationally, however, the win was massive for Penn State hockey, boosting the program’s PairWise ranking to No. 12. Not only was their highest ranking of the season, the Nittany Lions would have undoubtedly made the NCAA Tournament field had the season ended Friday.

Heartbreak befalls Pegula

In order to keep their PairWise ranking afloat, the Nittany Lions needed to do their best to avoid losing in regulation in Saturday’s regular-season finale. Conversely, Minnesota needed a regulation win to split the Big Ten regular season championship with Michigan State. 

The game started with a much higher pace compared to Friday, and was much more evenly matched throughout the first period. The teams traded chances, but neither could find the back of the net.

In the second, Friday’s hero struck again. Simon Mack launched a shot from the point that beat Souliere to give Penn State hockey a 1-0 lead.

But after that, the Gophers tilted the ice and kept Penn State in its own zone. Minnesota scored twice in the latter half of the period to take a 2-1 lead.

In the final minute of the frame, it looked like the Gophers had scored a dagger to go up 3-1. However, Guy Gadowsky used his challenge to contest a hit on Danny Dzhaniyev that occurred nearly two minutes before the goal. The referees ruled that there was in fact an illegal hit to the head on the play, meaning that the goal was wiped from the board and Penn State received a five minute power play.

Penn State struck on the man advantage before the period ended, with DiMarsico cleaning up the loose change in front. In a wild sequence of events, a 3-1 game turned into a 2-2 game with the home team having all the momentum.

The Nittany Lions couldn’t do much with the carryover time of the extended penalty to open the third period. Right after Minnesota got the kill, the Gophers found their third goal and reclaimed the lead. But in another counterpunch, Charlie Cerrato responded about a minute later to tie the game again.

However, it ultimately was the Gophers who landed the knockout blow. With just around seven minutes left, Reese Laubach was assessed a five minute major and was ejected for swinging his stick at a Minnesota player’s head. That meant that the Gophers had a man advantage for much of the remainder of regulation. The Nittany Lion did a masterful job at killing off the first four minutes of the power play, thanks in large part to Sergeev. But, with under 30 seconds to go in the advantage, Minnesota solved Sergeev and netted the dagger.

With three minutes left, Penn State didn’t have time for another counterpunch. An empty net goal sealed a 5-3 loss for the Nittany Lions. 

Where does Penn State hockey stand?

© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

Ultimately, the weekend’s results provided clarity as to what Penn State hockey must do to get into the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions need to win their best-of-three series against Michigan to essentially lock up their bid. A loss will almost certainly end the magical run the Nittany Lions have been on since the calendar turned to 2025. 

The do-or-die series will take place at Yost Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. both evenings. Sunday’s game will only be played if necessary. 

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