Penn State dominates Ohio State on the road

COLUMBUS, Ohio – In Penn State’s penultimate game of the regular season, the Nittany Lions showed their best performance in conference play, with a 5-2 rout of the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The road win secured Penn State’s first win away from Pegula Ice Arena since Nov. 18 against the Michigan Wolverines.

It looked like it would be another long night for the blue and white, as Ohio State’s Scooter Brickey scored early in the first.

However, a lengthy review would determine that Jake Dunlap headhunted Danny Dzhaniyev on a controversial call, wiping off the goal and giving Penn State a five-minute power play.

A switch was flipped after that call, with Jacques Bouquot scoring on the man advantage to put the Nittany Lions up in the opening 20.

Dalton Messina would come rushing down the ice shortly after on an odd-man chance, and pot one shorthanded to tie things up.

That was the eighth shorthanded goal against on the season for Penn State, the third-most in the nation.

The blue and white didn’t let that deter them, with a seeing-eye shot from Tanner Palocsik as time expired on the five-minute major to put Gadowsky’s squad in front again.

The Nittany Lions would come out for the middle frame with an entirely new identity, extending their lead to three goals thanks to Dzhaniyev and Paquette.

Dzhaniyev’s goal came off of a slick feed from the Vermont transfer Bouqout, who continues his strong second half of the season.

Ohio State would get a five-minute major of its own and have a prime chance to turn the tides after Carter Schade drilled Stephen Halliday up high in the final 98 seconds of the second period.

Liam Souliere and the penalty killers shut the door for all five minutes and set the tone for a shutdown third period.

Souliere continues to return to his junior year form, with 24 saves on 26 shots and sits just one save shy of 2,000 in his career. If he does so, he will be just the third blue-and-white goaltender to achieve that mark.

Casey Aman put a bow on the monstrous win for the blue and white, netting his first career goal on a partial breakaway on the backhand with 4:02 left in the final frame.

Scooter Brickey would score a late power-play marker in the final 30 seconds, but the Nittany Lions would secure their third win over Ohio State this season, the first time in program history.

Another three points in the Big Ten standings firmly secures Penn State’s position at sixth in the Big Ten, and are more than likely set for a postseason date with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

With this five-goal performance, the Nittany Lions have eclipsed four goals in each of the three contests against the Buckeyes this season and will look to do the same in the final game of the season on Saturday night.

Joshua Bartosik is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jsb137@psu.edu.