Penn State men’s hockey looking to snap losing streak with series against Ohio State
It’s been almost two months since Penn State last won a men’s hockey game, but Guy Gadowsky insists he’s not worried. Honest.
“We’re not searching,” Gadowsky said. “We just have to put it all together and play a complete game.”
In the 55 days since the team’s last victory, Penn State has altered lines and switched goalies while seeking to produce consistency. There have been some positives, individual successes and analytical and statistical proof-of-concept moments, but there has not been a validation on the scoreboard since a 6-3 victory over then-No. 7 Minnesota on Dec. 2.
This weekend’s two-game series against visiting Ohio State offers the chance to end a six-game conference losing streak.
Penn State and Ohio State sit sixth and seventh, respectively, in the seven-team conference standings, though. So while the Nittany Lions see opportunity, the Buckeyes do as well.
OSU’s only conference victory this season came Jan. 12 at home against Notre Dame — the team that swept Penn State by a combined 10-4 last weekend.
This weekend’s series is the first meeting between Penn State and Ohio State this season. They’ll play again March 1-2 in Columbus. Gadowsky thinks the late-season first meeting can be a positive.
Rather than look back at a meeting earlier in the season and adjust based on that, he believes this series allows Penn State to make the preparation “100% about us.”
After struggling with its power play (Penn State is next-to-last in the conference, converting on 17 of 89 opportunities), and giving up four goals to Notre Dame in man-advantage situations last weekend, Penn State’s focus this week was its special teams units.
Also, while the Nittany Lions typically avoid the penalty box, they were in it a lot at Notre Dame.
Those are the things that prompt Gadowsky’s upbeat approach — because he believes the team’s problems are mostly self-inflicted challenges that can be fixed.
“We just have to keep working at it,” junior forward Ryan Kirwan said. “We’ve had moments, but we have to put a whole game together. When we do that, we know we can win games.”
Penn State (10-11-3, 2-9-3 Big Ten) vs. Ohio State (9-11-4, 1-11-2)
Series: 7 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday
Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, 103.1 FM
Notable: Ohio State leads the all-time series 25-11-4, with a 10-6-2 advantage at Pegula Ice Arena. … Penn State allows more goals per game than any team in the conference (3.79). … Ohio State scores fewer goals than any team in the conference (2.71). … Penn State’s annual “Wear White” game is Saturday with donations at the game supporting the team’s Feb. 3 charity sled hockey event.
