Nittany Lions skate to OT win over Ohio State

The Penn State men’s hockey team is getting good in overtime.

For the third straight Friday night, the Nittany Lions netted the winner during the five-minute extra period.

Alec Marsh had the honors this time to give No. 14 Penn State the 3-2 win over Ohio State.

Andrew Sturtz and Kevin Kerr netted the other goals, with Kerr’s late in regulation to force overtime, and Matthew Skoff made 38 saves for the Nittany Lions’ first win at Value City Arena.

“Give them a lot of credit,” coach Guy Gadowsky told the media in Columbus. “Skoffer gave them a chance and they took it.”

Penn State also improved to 3-0-3 in overtime games this season, moving into a tie with Michigan for second place in the conference standings. Both are three points behind leader Minnesota, which beat Wisconsin on Friday.

The Lions, who won for the first time this season when trailing after two periods, beat the Badgers last Friday and the Gophers two weeks ago in the extra period.

Josh Healey and Nick Schilkey netted the goals for the Buckeyes (6-13-2, 1-4-2-1 Big Ten) and Christian Frey made 37 saves.

The teams meet again at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Nittany Lions (16-4-3, 6-1) put some heavy pressure on Ohio State at that end of the ice before Marsh circled around to the high slot and teed up a shot that was deflected past Frey for the winner 2:32 into the extra frame. It was Marsh’s sixth tally of the season.

The game’s first two goals were scored on the same power play — at each end of the ice.

First, Sturtz netted the team’s Division I-leading 10th shorthanded goal of the season, rushing ahead on a 3 on 1 break and sliding to his left with a toe-drag before flicking the puck over Frey’s shoulder. It was the team-leading 12th goal of the season for the freshman.

A mere 65 seconds later, Healey tied it with just the fourth power play goal allowed by the Nittany Lions since Nov. 7. It was the 11th man-advantage goal surrendered all season.

The Buckeyes took the lead after a long possession in the Penn State end late in the second period, with Schilkey finally cashing in 83 seconds before the second intermission.

The Nittany Lions trailed through most of the third before Kerr tied it, on his first career collegiate goal, by following his own shot with 4:17 left in regulation.

“First career collegiate goal and it couldn’t come at a better time,” Gadowsky said. “I like it because he was really digging. He had to work really hard for that one.”

Notes: Penn State was 0 for 3 on the power play, though the Lions’ time with a man advantage for the first two penalties totaled less than a minute, thanks to Penn State penalties wiping out the chances. … While ranking fourth in the nation in winning 54.3 percent of their faceoffs entering the weekend, the Lions were beaten 45-33. … Eric Scheid and Dylan Richard assisted on each of the team’s final two goals. ... The teams were deadlocked in shots 40-40.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Nittany Lions skate to OT win over Ohio State."