Penn State men’s hockey trying to find consistency as conference play starts
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Penn State opens Big Ten play at Ohio State seeking consistency and identity.
- Team shows top-end talent but trails early, needs chemistry and discipline.
- Penalty minutes lead nation; PK holds but frequent infractions risk game control.
It’s not hard to get from Happy Valley to Columbus, Ohio, the site of this week’s Penn State men’s hockey games as the team opens Big Ten Conference play with a two-game series starting Thursday night.
That’s not the real destination, though.
Fourth-ranked Penn State is trying to get from talented to good, or maybe even great, and it’s been a bumpy ride through the season’s first eight games.
With a half dozen NHL Draft picks on the roster (and that’s not counting next year’s presumptive No. 1 overall selection), Penn State might be as talented as ever. Trying to find some chemistry and consistency has been a challenge at times, though.
The team will need those things even more as conference play begins because the level of competition increases.
Penn State’s four nonconference opponents have a combined record of 7-19. Still, those less-talented teams frustrated Penn State with tight checking and sometimes exposed the Nittany Lions’ spotty defense.
While Penn State piled up victories, it has trailed in six of the season’s first eight games. The eventual come-from-behind wins were impressive — perhaps a testament to the team’s determination, grittiness and talent — but the Nittany Lions often only found a sense of urgency and offered a bit more effort after they were trailing.
It’s an approach that might not work as well against its conference rivals.
Penalties have been another problem for Penn State, which leads the nation with 193 penalty minutes. Although the team has only allowed three power-play goals — making its penalty-kill unit one of the nation’s best — getting sent to the box that much could eventually be a problem. Opponents have had 39 power-play opportunities against Penn State.
Both the search for identity and the need for some restraint probably result from the team’s inexperience. Nine players joined the program for the first time this season. So, they must adapt to each other and to the level of play in college hockey while working to meet high expectations and not falter in the pursuit of a postseason berth.
After Penn State’s awful start last season and eventual run to the program’s first Frozen Four, there’s probably not much panic among those associated with the program. But, more complete performances would allay some concerns.
Some portions of the team’s offense have been stellar.
The JJ Weibusch-Charlie Cerrato-Matt DiMarsico line has produced 20 goals. That’s nine from Wiebusch, seven from DiMarsico and four from Cerrato, who has a nation’s best 17 points (four goals, 13 assists).
And the team’s power play has produced a goal in every game this season.
Other portions remain a work in progress.
Forwards Aiden Fink, who was named preseason first-team all-conference, and Gavin McKenna, the likely top draft pick, have been productive, with nine and 10 points, respectively, but Penn State has tried five different centers on their line through the first eight games.
Defensively, Penn State’s efforts at even strength have been inconsistent. Like everything else, it might be a matter of integrating the newcomers and them adapting to each other as well as the style of play and overall talent in college hockey.
Defenseman Jackson Smith, a first-round draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, said college hockey has been more physical with things happening quicker than they did at the junior level. He’s getting more comfortable, though, and he’s excited about this week’s series because it’ll be contested in the city that he hopes to call home if he advances to the NHL in the future.
No. 4 Penn State (7-1) at No. 17 Ohio State (4-2)
Series: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 6:30 p.m. Friday
Audio/Radio: 93.7 FM, GoPSUsports.com
Streaming/TV: Big Ten Network (Thursday), B1G+
Notable: Ohio State leads the all-time series, 28-23-5, with a 17-13-2 mark on its home ice. … This is the first conference series for both teams this season. … Ohio State split a home series against Sacred Heart last weekend. … Sophomore forward Felix Caron leads OSU with six points (three goals, three assists). … Penn State was 4-4 after eight games last season. … Goaltenders Josh Fleming and Kevin Reidler may again split the series for Penn State.