2023-2024 Penn State men's hockey report card: at Minnesota

Coming off of its bye week, Penn State saw all momentum from the sweep against Ohio State eradicated, being swept by the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The Nittany Lions lost both games 3-0, and now find themselves below 500 for the first time this season.

Here are the grades from the series at Mariucci Ice Arena:

Offense: F

While it may seem harsh, it’s tough to get much worse than back-to-back blankings.

A culmination of shots hitting the post and outstanding goaltending from Justen Close led to the first time in program history the blue and white have been shut out in consecutive games.

Game 2 also saw Penn State get outshot 33-30, just the fifth time this season, and the Nittany Lions remain winless in such contests.

Even more concerning is the fact that Penn State has only scored more than three goals five times in Big Ten play this season, which could serve as a rationale to the 4-11-3 record in the conference.

Defense: C-

All things considered, the defense was rather sharp, holding one of the most explosive teams in the nation to just six goals over the weekend.

Despite that, giving up a goal just 43 seconds into Game 1, including a multitude of odd-man rush opportunities, allowed the maroon and gold to take the series into their own hands.

The team will have to shore up things defensively, as another offensive juggernaut comes into town this week in the Michigan Wolverines.

Goaltending: B

Liam Souliere continues to look more and more like his old self.

The goals against this weekend cannot sorely be blamed on the senior netminder, who racked up 54 saves across the two contests.

Souliere made key saves throughout both games, no small task against a team in Minnesota that averages around 3.5 goals per game.

Souliere has now allowed three goals or less in four straight games, seemingly answering the goaltending questions for Guy Gadowsky, at least for now.

Coaching/Special Teams: D+

When the Nittany Lions played Minnesota in November, the blue and white were held scoreless on the power play, going 0-5.

This series was more of the same, with Penn State being stifled on all five attempts yet again, including a five-minute power play and two 5-on-3 opportunities.

Even with the power-play struggles, Gadowsky’s squad was able to do the same thing to the Golden Gophers with a perfect 5-5 weekend on the penalty kill.

The Nittany Lions will need more of the same this weekend when Michigan’s lethal power play skates into Pegula Ice Arena.

Joshua Bartosik is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jsb6137@psu.edu