Nittany Lions roll past Clarkson at Three Rivers Classic
The best way to kill a penalty is to score yourself.
The Penn State men’s hockey team knows that quite well.
For the second time in as many nights, the No. 14 Nittany Lions scored a shorthanded goal, both by Eric Scheid, as the team cruised to a 5-1 win over Clarkson on Tuesday in the consolation game of the Three Rivers Classic at Consol Energy Center.
Scheid scored the shorthanded goal on a breakaway in the first minute of the third period. It gives the team its seventh score this season with a man down, which leads Division I.
Kenny Brooks had a goal and an assist, and David Thompson, David Goodwin and Connor Varley also scored for the Nittany Lions (12-3-3), who had a nine-game unbeaten streak snapped Monday. Luke Juha picked up three assists. Matthew Skoff, in the Pittsburgh-area native’s final college game in his hometown arena, made 36 saves for the win.
Varley closed the scoring later in the third with help from Alec Marsh and a face off win by David Glen.
Brooks opened the scoring 7:33 into the game, getting help from Curtis Loik and Luke Juha, and Thompson doubled the lead with a blast from the point with 14 seconds left in the first period, with help from Dylan Richard and Scheid.
Goodwin extended the lead, knocking in a rebound 7:28 into the second, with help from Brooks and Juha. It was the team’s 22nd power play goal of the season, but just the 10th surrendered with a man advantage this season by the Golden Knights.
Clarkson finally beat Skoff about five minutes later, with Troy Josephs redirecting a Terrance Amorosa blast from the point.
Penn State dropped into the consolation game after falling 6-4 to Robert Morris on Monday.
The game closed the non-conference schedule for the team.
The Nittany Lions take some more time off before resuming its Big Ten schedule, hosting Minnesota on Jan. 8 and 9.
This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 7:10 PM with the headline "Nittany Lions roll past Clarkson at Three Rivers Classic."