Penn State ready to start Big Ten hockey schedule

Members of the Penn State men’s hockey team say it’s just another week, just another opponent.

“We’re doing the same stuff,” goalie Eamon McAdam said. “It’s the same thing, same mentality, same game. Pretty much runs the same right down to individual. You don’t want to change what you’re doing based on an opponent.”

But a lot can be made of this weekend.

The No. 19 Nittany Lions (8-2-3), off to the best start to a season in program history, begin Big Ten play with games against Michigan State (4-7-2) at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Spartans are not having their standard season, and Penn State needs to make a statement about being among the top contenders in the conference.

The Nittany Lions and No. 12 Michigan are the only programs with winning records as conference play begins, and now they have to be mindful of standings, points for wins and ties and taking care of details.

They are no longer the upstart program building for the future. The concern is no longer for stealing a win where they can, but doing what they are supposed to do to be a contender in the conference. It’s no longer excitement that a storied program like the Spartans will be in Pegula Ice Arena, but that it’s one of the Big Ten’s six hockey programs and points matter.

“It’s just a natural progression – one you hope to have,” coach Guy Gadowsky said. “I hope you don’t always think that every Michigan State that comes to town, that it’s a novelty.”

The Nittany Lions have a lot to prove against the Spartans. In the first year as a Division I program in 2012-13, Penn State went to Munn Ice Arena and split two games, a milestone for the program. But since the Big Ten began playing hockey the next year, Michigan State has been the dominant team head-to-head with a 5-1-2 record.

There is much to prove.

A major reason for the Spartan superiority is their netminder every time – senior Jake Hildebrand has been the Big Ten’s best goalie pretty much his entire career. The native of Butler will be making his final appearance in Pennsylvania this weekend.

“It’s always an elevated game when you’re playing Michigan State, just based on the fact that he’s in the net,” McAdam said. “He’s a good goalie and he always gives his team a chance to win. The margin of error is just a little bit smaller.”

“You know you’ve got to make your chances count,” junior forward Dylan Richard said. “Especially in the slot there, you really want to bear down and put the puck in the net. … Different goalie it might not be as crucial.”

Hildebrand has actually been having an off year by his standards, allowing 2.95 goals-against per game, which doesn’t even rank among the nation’s top 50 goalies. As a team the Spartans are allowing 3.0 goals per game, which ranks 43rd out of 60 teams.

Thanks to the sparkling work of McAdam and Matthew Skoff over the past month, Penn State is allowing 2.38 goals per game, which ranks 18th in the nation.

But the Nittany Lions also have the nation’s No. 2 power play unit and No. 4 scoring offense.

The numbers figure to favor Penn State, and this is a chance to prove they are a contender in the Big Ten.

“There is a little bit more excitement with the guys here,” Richard said. “We’re ready to get this started and show everyone what we can do.”

This story was originally published December 3, 2015 at 8:13 PM with the headline "Penn State ready to start Big Ten hockey schedule."