Penn State hockey rolls over Ohio State

The season just keeps getting more memorable for the Penn State men’s hockey team.

David Goodwin became the program’s all-time scoring leader with a goal and an assist, while Vince Pedrie netted a goal and two assists.

They spurred a four-goal second period as the No. 16 Nittany Lions dropped Ohio State 6-1 Friday night at Pegula Ice Arena.

“We felt things were clicking for sure,” Goodwin said of his line in the second period. “We were getting some bounces, we had some flow to our game and spending a lot of time in the offensive zone.”

David Glen, Luke Juha, Alec Marsh and Zach Saar also scored as the team netted at least six goals for the seventh time this season.

Nick Schilkey netted the score for the Buckeyes (8-13-2, 3-8-2-1).

With his two points, Goodwin has 82 for his career – 31 goals and 51 assists – to put him atop the program’s career list, passing his linemate from last year, Casey Bailey, who had 80. The 51 assists also are tops for the program.

Goodwin immediately credited his teammates and linemates to get him there.

“I feel very fortunate and blessed to have played with so many great players in my last three years here,” said Goodwin, who knew before the game he was tied with Bailey.

Penn State (19-8-4, 9-5-1-1 Big Ten), which also set the program record for wins in a season, is unbeaten in its last four games.

Eamon McAdam made 33 saves, a few of a spectacular variety, and stood up against some heavy Buckeye pressure.

“Eamon was awesome,” coach Guy Gadowsky said. “He made huge saves. He gave us a chance to get back. It’s funny, a 6-1 game you don’t often think that a goaltender is maybe an integral, important part of that game, but in this case that was absolutely true.”

A pretty feed from behind the net from Goodwin set up Glen for the opening goal, with the senior forward hammering the puck into an open side of the net from the slot. It was Glen’s sixth goal of the year, the 21st assist for Goodwin.

Penn State took control with a four-goal second period, including three in the span of less than five minutes.

Eric Scheid had the nice feed when he raced up along the boards, slowed near the top of the faceoff circle and fed the puck across for a slapshot from Pedrie, who had just stepped onto the ice from the bench.

“Eric Scheid made a great play just to have the poise and patience to see me over there on the other side,” Pedrie said. “It’s not one of those things where I tried to put it there. Just shot as hard as I could.”

The big scoring burst came later in the period.

First, Goodwin hit the record mark by flipping the puck to the top shelf to complete a serious game of tic-tac-toe, started by Goodwin to Erik Autio to Pedrie to Andrew Sturtz before the return to the junior. The score chased goalie Christian Frey.

Three minutes later, just as a Buckeye penalty was expiring, Kevin Kerr swept behind the net and found Juha, again to the top shelf.

Marsh struck 90 seconds later, flying across the front of the crease and slipping the puck between the post and new goalie Matt Tomkins’ skate.

Schilkey broke McAdam’s shutout bid with a power play score 2:14 into the third.

Saar closed the scoring, hitting an empty net pulled during a Buckeye power play in the last minute. It was the team’s Division I-leading 11th shorthanded goal of the season.

The Nittany Lions did have some disappointing numbers Friday, whistled for 10 penalties to give Ohio State seven power plays.

“I think we just have got to stay out of the box,” McAdam said. “It’s as simple as that. When you’re up a lot of goals, teams are going to get chippy, try and do anything they can to get back in the game. You just kind of have to be above it.”

The best part of the night for the Buckeyes?

“That it’s over,” Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik said. “If you really think about it, our guys have got an opportunity to put the skates on again (Saturday) to compete.”

Notes: The teams close the two-game series at 3 p.m. Saturday, the final home game of the season for Penn State, with Senior Day festivities starting at about 2:45 p.m. … A crowd of 6,113 showed up for the 30th straight sellout. … Penn State skated with four full lines, but some were still nursing injuries and had limited time. Among the changes, freshman Matt Mendelson played center for the first time as a Lion.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 9:05 PM with the headline "Penn State hockey rolls over Ohio State."