Penn State men's hockey 2023-2024 series grades: AIC

Penn State men’s hockey opened up its home slate at Pegula Ice Arena, splitting a pair of games with the AIC Yellow Jackets.

Game 1 saw back-and-forth action from both teams before Tanner Palocsik sealed the 3-2 victory for the Nittany Lions late in the third period.

Game 2 was another edition of early season woes for the blue and white, as the slow start sealed their fate in a 6-4 loss despite a three-goal comeback, marking their first loss of the season and first non-conference loss in 23 games.

Here are the grades from the past series.

Offense: A-

Guy Gadowsky’s squad did what they do best this past weekend: shots, shots and more shots.

Penn State barraged both AIC goaltenders, Nils Walstrom and Alexandros Aslanidis, piling on 85 shots through the two contests, hitting the 40-shot mark in both.

The Nittany Lions were able to put up seven goals on the weekend, including another goal from Ryan Kirwan, who continues his hot streak.

The main story this past weekend was the new influx of talent stealing the show, where three newcomers in Aiden Fink, Reese Laubach and Palocsik all notched their first goals donning the blue and white.

The team is averaging nearly four goals a game, and if Penn State continues at that clip, it will set itself up for success once conference play begins.

Defense: B-

A tale of two games for the Nittany Lions on the back end.

Game 1 was a defensive masterclass from the blueliners, stifling the Yellow Jackets to just 12 total shots and setting a program record for fewest shots allowed in a single game.

Game 2 was a complete 180 from the previous tilt, as the blue and white gave up odd-man rush after odd-man rush, preventing them from truly ever finding their footing and giving the team a massive hole to claw out of.

Miscommunication was a huge factor in the contest as well. Several failed breakout attempts allowed AIC to counterattack and lay the pressure on, resulting in goals on some occasions.

For a unit that has been called “the best D-core we’ve ever had,” Gadowsky and the rest of the coaching staff have some things to tighten up before taking on Alaska Anchorage this Thursday and Friday.

Goaltending: D+

A rare sight on the report card, a porous grade between the pipes.

Liam Souliere proved that he is in fact still human, giving up two goals on just 12 shots in Game 1.

Game 2 was an even bigger shocker for the senior netminder, who was pulled in the middle of the second period after giving up four tallies on 15 shots.

Sophomore Noah Grannan was solid for the back half of the contest, stopping seven shots, but gave up a dagger in the final three minutes to give the Yellow Jackets the late lead.

Souliere was pulled for the first time since Feb. 17 against Minnesota last season, and it could move some eyes to who will be in goal against the Seawolves this coming Thursday.

Coaching: C+

For the first time this season, special teams did not play to the advantage of the blue and white.

Coming into this series, AIC was 0-15 on the power play this season, with just 16 shots on the 15 attempts.

In just two shots over the weekend, the Yellow Jackets struck twice on the man advantage, turning the tide of the game both times.

As for the Nittany Lions’ man-advantage unit, a tally from Fink in Game 1 knotted the game back up at two apiece and led the blue and white towards a comeback win.

Game 2 however, was a different story. Penn State went 0-2 in the tilt, including just two shots on a five-minute major penalty that ultimately had the last 1:22 of it stripped away due to a penalty on the blue and white.

Gadowsky and Andrew Sturtz, the newly appointed special teams coach, have their work cut out for them this weekend when the Nittany Lions take on an Alaska Anchorage team boasting sturdy units in both situations.

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