Penn State scored 4 straight goals to overcome a 4-1 deficit and pick up the 12th win of the year on Friday night. Dylan Richard led the way with two goals an assist but it was freshman Scott Conway with the game winner with just over three minutes to go in regulation.
How It Happened:
Penn State dominated the majority of the play in the opening period an capitalized early with a power play tally only 1:22 into the game. Dylan Richard pounced on a Curtis Loik rebound and flipped it into the net to put Penn State up 1-0. The Nittany Lions outshot Northern Michigan 21-7 during the frame but failed to capitalize on the lopsided play.
That came back to bite the Nittany Lions in the second frame with Northern Michigan taking the play to Penn State. The Wildcats tied the game earlier in the period at the 1:41 mark as Barret Kaib punched home the puck. Northern Michigan added another only two minutes later to take a 2-1 lead as the defense let Ryan Kesti wide open in front of Penn State goalie Matt Skoff. On both of the early goals the Nittany Lion defense failed to cover the backside of the play, leaving Skoff out on his own to stop difficult shots.
Penn State recovered with a few good shifts but failed to tie the game despite a few good rushes. The Nittany Lions struggled to maintain pressure in the offensive zone and another Wildcat goal made it 3-1 with 11:54 gone in the period.
The Wildcats continued to pour on the pressure and scored again three minutes later to make it a 4-1 margin. Skoff made the initial save but the puck dribbled over his glove and into the net. PJ Musico replaced Skoff in goal.
Casey Bailey didn’t let Penn State go quietly into the night though, scoring a blast from the right circle with just over 22 seconds to go in the period.
Like so many times before it only took one goal to get Penn State going. Dylan Richard slapped in a goal into a wide open net only 3:34 into the final frame after Eric Scheid stole the puck along the boards and rocketed down the ice getting a shot on net. Richard gathered the rebound and sent it home making it 4-3 Northern Michigan with just under 17 minutes to go in the game.
David Glen would tie the game with just over 6 minutes to play as he redirected a David Thompson blast from the right circle behind Dahlstrom. With the game tied and plenty of time to play it seemed the Nittany Lions would pick up the victory with all of the momentum in their corner.
And it happened, Scott Conway punching in the winning tally with just over three minutes to play after a scramble in front of the net. It completed a comeback of 4 straight goals and a frantic third period that had the Pegula Ice Arena in a frenzy.
Penn State improves to 12-7-3 on the year.
It Was Over When:
Scott Conway flicked in a goal with 3:20 to play to compete the comeback and give Penn State a 5-4 lead. From there it was all Nittany Lions as they buzzed around the rink on both ends of the ice to prevent Northern Michigan from making its own comeback. Penn State scored 4 straight goals after going down 4-1 late in the second period. Conway’s final goal finishing the comeback.
Stats Of The Game:
Northern Michigan goalie Mathias Dahlstrom made 48 saves on the night in the losing effort. PJ Musico made 10 saves in the third period in relief of Matthew Skoff.
Penn State got 53 on goal Friday night with with David Glenn and Scott Conway putting 15 on net together.
Players Of The Game:
Dylan Richard had two big goals for Penn State on Friday night. One to open the scoring and one to cut Penn State’s deficit to only a second on a shorthanded rebound. Richard also picked up an assist on the game winning goal.
PJ Musico made 11 saves and let up no goals in the final period and a half of play coming in relief of Matt Skoff. The win is Musico’s first of the season in his two appearances.
David Glenn had 8 shots on goal, a goal and an assist in one of his first games back from injury.
What’s Next:
Penn State and Northern Michigan will meet again on Saturday afternoon for a 4:30 puck drop.
