Consistency.
That is really the biggest battle that Penn State hockey faces this season. Bringing the same type of 60 minute effort to the ice each and every week.
But that’s hard.
And a lack of consistency has been a reason the Nittany Lions have started the season 3-1-2 — a respectable mark to open the year — but it could be a win or two better if not for some self-inflicted lapses in attention to detail.
So as Penn State hits the ice on Thursday night to face Bentley for the first of a two game series, the Nittany Lions will look to keep the program headed in the right direction. A win on Thursday night would give Penn State three straight wins after sweeping Holy Cross last weekend for the first series sweep in Pegula Ice Arena history.
Bentley won’t be an easy out though as they managed to sweep RPI last weekend on the road, a tough task for any team. If the introduction of hockey has done anything, it has reminded Penn State fans that the small schools in football are not necessarily as small when it comes to hockey.
“I know they score a lot of goals,” Head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “They don’t necessarily pepper the net, but they score a lot of goals.”
That will make starting goaltender Matt Skoff’s start to the series especially important. Skoff stopping 57 of 59 shots against Holy Cross. Another strong performance will be key to Penn State’s success this weekend.
The series is also the last in the comforts of home for Penn State until January 9th. The Nittany Lions will be on the road for the next nine games. After winning only eight games last season, a victory in either of the two upcoming games would put Penn State halfway to last season’s win total only eight games into the season.
But like all things surrounding Penn State hockey, the focus is on the process of getting better. If that means better results on the ice that’s good, but for head coach Gadowksy and his staff, it’s taking care of the little things and letting the big things take care of themselves.
Judging by how the Nittany Lions have looked so far this season though, the big things could be taken care of sooner rather than later.
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