Third Period:
Penn State will look to burn the final 28 seconds of the Army powerplay to start the period off. Army’s goalie is back into the student section end of the arena. The Nittany Lions kill the penalty and Curtis Loik almost scores on a half-breakaway to make it 2-0.
The Nittany Lions are back on the PK though after a roughing call gives Army another powerplay.
Curtis Loik scores shorthanded on a two-on-one to put Penn State up 2-0 and send the Pegula Ice Arena into a frenzy.
After some back and forth action the Nittany Lions make it 3-0 with eight minutes to go in the game. David Goodwin got a deflected puck and took it all the way down the ice to slot it past Tadazak. Penn State is scoring the goals it has earned after spending the majority of the game with the puck or negating the Army attack.
Army gets on the board with 4:21 to go in the game during an Army 5-on-3 thanks to a Olczyk slashing call. The play is reviewed but is upheld.
Penn State doesn’t let up any other goals and a Eric Scheid empty net goal finishes the night off.
Second Period:
Eddie Olczyk in the house tonight supporting his son Tommy. Made several games last season as well. Army comes out of the gate with solid play in the offensive zone but the Nittany Lions will head to the powerplay.
The Nittany Lions maintaining good offensive pressure of their own during the powerplay and are just wide on several good looks in the first minute of the man-advantage.
Army heads to the powerplay with about 13 minutes to go in the second period and Skoff makes his best save of the night from point blank range. The Nittany Lions are able to maintain some shorthanded pressure though and get at least one scoring chance for their efforts.
The Knights have struggled to move the puck into the offensive zone and Penn State has taken advantage with plenty of time with the puck after an early flurry from Army. David Goodwin is denied a great scoring chance in front of goal to almost make it 2-0.
Penn State with two straight penalties and the Nittany Lions are asking for trouble despite dominating most of the run of play.
David Glenn is called for holding in a questionable senerio to put Penn State down two men setting up an Army 5-on-3 situation. With 1:32 to go in the second period the Knights will carry some of that over to the start of the third period if no goals are scored in the final minute and change of the second period.
Penn State burns off the two man advantage and Army will only have 28 seconds with an extra man to start the third period. Skoff with a nice save that brings the crowd to its feet.
After two periods Penn State leads the shot count 5-22 with 19 on target. The Nittany Lions blocked 7 shots during the period.
First Period:
Fans are on their feet and we’re just about to get going here at Pegula Ice Arena. Taylor Holstrom blasts a shot from the point and Nate Jensen registers the first goal of the night deflecting Holstrom’s shot. It took just under four minutes for the first goal of the season and the first at Pegula Ice Arena.
Army is struggling with possession but will have a powerplay following a high-sticking penalty. The Nittany Lions kill off the odd-man situation.
Nittany Lions another penalty and a game misconduct to boot. Penn State struggled to stay out of the box last season and it could be an issue down the road. Penn State leads in shots currently 6-4 and has done a good job blocking Army shots in the early going. Skoff has yet to be really tested.
Penn State will take the 1-0 lead into the break. Nittany Lions with 19 shots, four on goal. Army with 18 shots and seven on goal. Nate Jensen led Penn State with three shots and goal in the period and the Nittany Lions blocked 10 Army attempts on net.
Pregame:
Teams have taken the ice and we’re 26 minutes away from the game. Crowd is electric and the student section is loud.
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The wait is over.
Penn State and Army will open the Pegula Ice Arena for Division I men’s hockey tonight at 8:00 on the Big Ten Network. The game sold out well in advance of tonight’s contest with tickets selling on StubHub in excess of $200 dollars a piece.
On the ice the game will mark the second season for Penn State at the Division I level and the first season in the newly formed Big Ten hockey conference. Matthew Skoff will get the start in net tonight after finishing the season winning six of his last eight starts.
The Nittany Lions will start Casey Bailey, Taylor Holstrom and Max Gardiner on the first line with Luke Juha and Mark Yanis on defense. Bailey was the Nittany Lions’ top point-getter last season. Nittany Lions leading goal scorer David Glenn will center the Nittany Lions’ second line. Captain Tommy Olczyk will play along side Kenny Brooks and Curtis Loik on the third line.
Rob Tadazak will start between the pipes for Army with head coach Brian Riley entering his tenth season as head coach.
Stay tuned here for period-by-period updates and insight during this historic night.
Who’s Who: (Last season stats)
(25) Casey Bailey: Penn State point’s leader with 18
(11) David Glenn: Penn State goal’s leader with 16 and assistant captain
(27) Max Gardiner: Penn State assist’s leader with 19. (Saint Louis Blues’ draft pick)
(14) Tommy Olcyzk: Penn State’s captain
(24) Nate Jensen: Assistant captain
(3) Patrick Koudys: Washington Capitals’ draft pick
