No. 11 Penn State hockey took advantage of power plays and stout defense on Friday night to beat No.7 Minnesota 3-1. The win marked just the fifth against the Gophers in 18 attempts and second on the road against Minnesota.
Andrew Sturtz opened the scoring with just under five minutes to go in the opening period to put the Nittany Lions up 1-0. Penn State controlled much of the offensive play in the first period, taking a 10-6 shot advantage into the intermission. The Gophers entered the game without captain Tyler Sheehy and do not expect the All-Big Ten standout to play this weekend.
2:42 into the second frame a too-many-men penalty put the Nittany Lions on the man advantage and it didn’t take long before Erik Autio’s pass to Denis Smirnov found the back of the net to extend the lead to 2-0 early in the period.
Midway through a major penalty gave Penn State a 5-on-3 advantage and Nikita Pavlychev continued the Russian trend, putting Penn State ahead 3-0.
It looked to be Penn State’s night not long after as Peyton Jones made one of the best saves of his career with an outstretched stick, denying a point-blank chance. In turn the Nittany Lions headed into the second intermission ahead 3-0.
Nearly nine minutes into the third period Minnesota drew within two but the Gophers struggled to find any offense and the Nittany Lions closed out the victory.
Penn State improves to 2-1 on the year and will return to the ice on Sunday for the second game against the Gophers.
While the season is still brand new, the Nittany Lions will look back on a Big Ten opening victory at Minnesota as an exceptionally good result.
Hey @Buccigross any room on the #SCTop10 tonight for this incredible stick save by @Peyton_Jones31?? @SportsCenterhttps://t.co/DnzQBnEZYw
— Penn State Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 14, 2017
