Penn State hockey is on the verge of the best start in program history and has an all-time ranking to show for it as the Nittany Lions checked in at No. 10 in the latest USCHO.com poll on Monday. The ranking is the highest in program history, breaking last week’s mark at No. 12.
The Nittany Lions’ (9-1-1) rise through the ranks is due in large part to a nine-game undefeated streak, the second longest in the nation early in the season. Penn State heads into this week’s series against Arizona State having now swept each of the its last three opponents including 6-3 and 3-1 victories over Alaska-Anchorage this past weekend.
Penn State has now won seven straight contests dating back to their upset of then No. 3 Notre Dame on October 22nd marking their longest winning streak in program history. The Nittany Lions nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1) also ties their nine-game streak last season of 7-0-2 for their best ever.
The Nittany Lions’ six game home winning streak is also tied for the program best which was set last season from November 13, 2015 through January 8, 2016.
‘I feel really, really good about last weekend,’ Coach guy Gadowsky said on Monday. ‘I think it was a set up game to lose. What I mean by that is Anchorage played way better than they did on Friday and then we hit crossbars, pucks went through goaltenders that they didn’t see the pucks and it just went out the other side. The puck just wasn’t going in the goal. So I think that was a set-up game to lose. I think there are good teams that lose those types of games. So I feel really good that our guys just kept pressing though it.’
Penn State hosts Arizona State this weekend for a Friday/Saturday series that could see the Nittany Lions officially have their best start in program history. Peyton Jones is due to start in net Friday with Chris Funkey taking over on Saturday. Gadowsky is hopeful for the return of leading goalscorer Andrew Sturtz this weekend as well.
