How It Happened: Penn State allowed an early goal in the game’s opening minutes and struggled to create great scoring chances as the former No.1 team in the nation chipped away at Penn State’s defense. The Nittany Lions were unable to control rebounds and failed to match UML’s ability to control the area in front of the net. Overall, Penn State was beaten by a team that was able to skate quickly, pass well, and generate quality scoring chances.
Even so, the Nittany Lions were not outplayed. A better start and a stronger effort could make lead to a win in Friday night’s rematch. Better bounces, better chances, and a stronger effort to keep things simple could make for an entertaining Friday night primetime meeting.
Turning Point: 7:56 into the second period, Derek Arnold scored to give the River Hawks a 3-0 lead. Penn State had played a solid second period before a rebound on a wide angle shot was slapped into a wide open net. Arnold would add another tally in the third period.
Player of the Game: The River Hawks’ Connor Hellebuyck made 37 saves on the night and was solid in goal when Penn State was able to generate a few quality scoring chances. UML was clearly the better team on Thursday night, but Hellebuyck made some exceptional saves that kept Penn State off the board. From an offensive standpoint, Derek Arnold played a strong game with two goals, as well as Stephen Buco who registered two assists. From a Penn State standpoint, captain Tommy Olczyk played a strong game with a team-high five shots and two blocks. Olczyk was also key in many areas that don’t show up in the box score.
Stat of the Game: Six different Nittany Lions registered four or more shots. Thursday was also the first game that Penn State has been shutout at home.
What It Means: Penn State falls to 3-4-1 on the year and has learned a lot about what it takes to play at a high level and play against teams already playing at a high level. There were positives to take away from Thursday night, but Penn State still has work to do to get to where the program wants to be.
On Deck: Penn State takes on the River Hawks again on Friday night at 7:00 PM. The game is sold-out.
Live Blog Coverage
Third Period:
The third and final period is here and underway. Penn State still looking for its first goal and some momentum to take into Friday night’s contest. The Nittany Lions almost score after a great individual effort by Eric Scheid. Penn State goes on the power play and almost scores on two occasions but River Hawks’ goaltender Conner Hellebuyck continues to have a strong night standing tall in net. Penn State leads the shot count 34-25.
UMass-Lowell adds one last tally in garbage time to cap off the evening.
Second Period:
Penn State gets the first shot on goal and we’re underway here in the second period of action. The Nittany Lions with a few seconds remaining on the power play. The River Hawks kill it off. UMass-Lowell will head to the power play following a tripping call. The River Hawks get a few chances but Skoff is strong in goal and the Nittany Lions kill off the power play again.
Skoff appears to make a save almost on his back but UMass-Lowell rushes the net and punches the puck home. Skoff has some words for the referee as it looked as though the puck had been covered and a whistle never came. Either way, 2-0 with 13:00 to go in the second frame. The River Hawks have controlled the majority of the play in the opening 10 minutes.
A few minutes later Skoff gives up a rebound on a wide angle shot and it’s slapped into the net to give UMass-Lowell a 3-0 lead.
Penn State’s Nate Jensen rings one off the pipe but it’s no goal. Four-on-four action leads to another near goal for Penn State as the Nittany Lions head to a shortened power play.
Penn State and UMass-Lowell are tied in shots 21-21 as the Nittany Lions have played a stronger second half of the second period. Penn State has had more chances but has had a hard time getting bodies in front of the net and has had to settle for shots from the outside of the circles. The River Hawks have not outplayed Penn State as much as they have been able to create better scoring chances when the opportunity arises.
First Period:
Some early back and forth action and UMass scores 1:51 into the game. Penn State has a decent chance in the opening minute but the shot was blocked. The Nittany Lions are mounting a nice response though. Penn State is only being outshot 2-1 early in the game despite the goal but the River Hawks are moving the puck well and have prevented Penn State from maintaining too much pressure in the offensive zone. UMass-Lowell has not maintained much pressure offensively either though.
UMass-Lowell will head to the powerplay after a roughing after the whistle penalty. Penn State kills off the penalty after the River Hawks only had one good chance on goal.
Penn State continues to settle in to the game and will head to the power play following a high-sticking call. Shots are 6-5 in favor of UMass-Lowell. The Nittany Lions almost score but the River Hawks kill off the penalty. Taylor Holstrom gets a nice attempt in front of goal but the shot is deflected high and out of danger for UMass-Lowell.
A charging call puts Penn State back on the power play with just under two-minutes left in the opening period. Penn State will take about a half minute into the second period still on the power play.
Pregame:
Settled in at the Pegula Ice Arena for what should be a exciting night for college hockey fans as Penn State hosts No. 13/16 UMass-Lowell for the first of a two-game series. The River Hawks are 6-4-0 on the year and were formerly ranked the top team in the nation at the start of the 2013 season.
Penn State enters tonight’s contest 3-3-1 and on a two-game winning streak having defeated Sacred Heart 2-1 last week and Robert Morris on the road 5-4 the week prior. Interestingly enough, UMass-Lowell opened the season with a 2-1 loss to Sacred Heart en route to opening the season 1-3. The River Hawks have won five of their last six games including a 1-0 victory over Michigan and a 4-1 victory over Michigan State.
The River Hawks have scored on the power-play in six straight games while Penn State has fended off 83-percent of its opponents’ power-play chances. Matthew Skoff will get the start in net tonight. The sophomore is 3-1-1 on the year with a .925 save percentage and a 2.39 goals against average.
While both Thursday and Friday night will provide the Nittany Lions with a stiff test, an overtime upset victory against then No. 16 ranked Wisconsin gave Penn State its first victory against a ranked opponent last season.
