Putting, a golf term completely unrelated to hockey has become the analogy of choice for Penn State hockey coach Guy Gadowsky.
And on Friday night the putts fell. A lot of them in fact, to the tune of an 8-2 victory over Sacred Heart. The win pushed the Nittany Lions’ record to 5-2-2 on the year and snapped a three game winless streak by Penn State that included two overtime periods.
David Goodwin opened the scoring just 3:29 into the first period thanks to a great back-and-forth feed by Andrew Sturtz. From there the Nittany Lions dominated the run of the play until Alex Marsh and Dylan Richard added two more goals in just under a minute to make it 3-0. Marsh scoring at even strength while Richard added another on the man advantage.
While things seemed to be going great for Penn State, Sacred Heart made the most of two quick chances in the final 1:02 of the first period to cut into the lead. With the Nittany Lions leading 3-2 headed into the first intermission the easy victory was far from apparent.
In the second period Andrew Sturtz picked up second point of the night finding the back of the net 6:38 into the frame. Eric Scheid nearly scored on a breakaway chance but was robbed by net minder Brett Magnus.
Kenny Brooks left no doubt though, streaking down the right side of the ice and firing a puck into Magnus’ glove. The puck bobbling out and landing on the ice behind Magnus and trickling into the net. On the other end Penn State goalie Eamon McAdam stood tall as the Nittany Lions had a rare period where they trailed in shots 22-17. McAdam made all 22 saves, many of the difficult variety that helped keep a 4-2 margin.
David Goodwin picked up his second goal in as many period with just under five minutes to go in the period on the man advantage as Penn State went 5-of-7 on the power play Friday night.
Perhaps the biggest moment of the night for the Nittany Lions, a goal by forward Zach Saar who was playing in his first game back from injury. With just under 10 minutes to go in regulation Saar shot the puck wide on the power play before reloading and blasting a shot into the back of the net.
“I wanted to send it through the wall of the arena” Saar said after the game.
Chase Berger added a final tally 10:55 into the final frame as Penn State outshot Sacred Heart 21-8 in the last 20 minutes of play.
It was a perfect game for the Nittany Lions who will have to play better on Saturday at 4 PM to repeat the winning result.
But the putts fell, and that’s always a good feeling.
