No. 8 Penn State men’s hockey looks to upset No. 5 Wisconsin in road series

Coming off a hard-fought home sweep against the team in the basement of the conference standings, Penn State gets a more challenging assignment this weekend.

The nation’s eighth-ranked men’s hockey team travels to face fifth-ranked Wisconsin.

Penn State sits ahead of Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings (Penn State has 25 points to Wisconsin’s 22) but the Nittany Lions are behind the Badgers in the national rankings. That hair’s-breadth difference should produce compelling action on the ice.

“We’re excited for it for a couple of reasons — one, to get points at this time of year and two, because it’s an excellent, excellent opponent, one of the best teams in the nation,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said. “It’s after January, we’re in a spot to fight our way into the tournament.”

It’ll be a tough fight, though, especially with Penn State still battling some injuries.

Forward Charlie Cerrato is doubtful for the series while defensemen Casey Aman and Mac Gadowsky and forward Shea Van Olm were day to day at the start of the week and might be able to contribute.

It’ll be Penn State’s first conference road game in 62 days, and it’s the end of a six-game homestand for Wisconsin, which rarely takes penalties and has a strong power-play unit. Penn State brings some confidence to the series after adapting to injuries and adjusting its lines because of those injuries.

“It’s changed what we know about our team in terms of confidence,” Gadowsky. “We feel better about our team because of that necessity.”

Plus, he believes the team may be playing some of its best “identity” hockey of the season.

That’s thanks to those who’ve contributed as necessary — and to those who have been consistent and lucky enough to be healthy all season long.

Forward Matt DiMarsico has played all 22 games this season and leads Penn State in goals (14) and points (26). He’s quiet off the ice, but persistent, pesky and even a little prickly, on the ice — a problematic combination for opponents.

He’s had three hat tricks this season, and he’s just as likely to net a pretty breakaway as a gritty putback in front of a busy net. The latter might be more DiMarsico than the former.

“I just go out there and work hard every game, trying to be consistent and bring my best,” DiMarsico said. “Sometimes you’re really feeling it. And sometimes you just have to get in there and mix it up.”

One thing Penn State will not mix up this weekend is its approach to goaltending. Both Josh Fleming (10 games, 1.82 goals-against average, .943 save percentage) and Kevin Reidler (12, 2.92, .910) will get starts.

Rather than try to settle on one goalie, Penn State sees no need to fix something that’s not broken.

No. 8 Penn State (16-6, 8-4 Big Ten) at No. 5 Wisconsin (15-5-2, 8-4)

Series: 8 p.m. Friday, 8:30 p.m. Saturday

Audio/Radio: GoPSusports.com, 103.7 FM, 104.3 FM

Streaming/TV: B1G+ (Friday), B1G Network (Saturday)

Notable: Penn State leads the all-time series, 29-25-3, with things deadlocked (12-12-1) when the teams play in Madison. … Wisconsin was swept last weekend at home by Michigan State, losing 4-3 and 4-1. … Both Penn State and Wisconsin are 7-3 in their last 10 games this season. … Penn State (89.7%) and Wisconsin (85.4%) win faceoffs at a better rate than any other schools in the conference.