January 8, 2021

Buckeyes Open Series vs. Penn State with 6-3 Win

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Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s hockey team began the 2021 portion of its schedule with a 6-3 win over Penn State Friday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes, who led from early in the first period, had five players notch multiple points and goalie Tommy Nappier made 40 saves in the team’s first game since Dec. 18.

The Buckeyes (4-6-1, 4-5-0-0-1-0 B1G) and Nittany Lions (4-7-0, 2-7-0-0-0-0) will close the weekend series at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. BTN Plus will stream the game and Ohio State radio will carry the contest.

Ohio State 6, Penn State 3 – The Short Story

Austin Pooley put the Buckeyes on the board 2:20 into the contest and Collin Peters followed for a 2-0 lead at 8:39. Penn State converted on the power play at 12:36 for a 2-1 game after 20 minutes. The teams traded goals in the second period, with Travis Treloar scoring early for the Buckeyes and Penn State tallying with 3:08 remaining, for a one-goal contest (3-2) entering the third. Quinn Preston and Treloar (on the power play) both tallied in the first 3:16 of the third to push the Buckeye lead to 5-2. At 18:36 Penn State made it a two-goal game (5-3) but Pooley secured the win with an empty net goal at 19:40. Tommy Nappier made 40 saves for the Buckeyes and helped the penalty kill go 4-for-5.

Pooley had his first career two-goal game and added an assist for his first three-point night as a Buckeye. Preston had a goal and two assists for his fourth career three-point outing and his fourth game with two helpers, along with six shot blocks. Treloar, who leads the Buckeyes with 11 points, had his first collegiate two-goal night and his fourth two-point game. Peters had a goal and an assist for a career-high two points and Layton Ahac had his first two-assist game and first multiple point outing.

Quoting Buckeye assistant coach JB Bittner

“What pleased me the most was how guys prepared the last two weeks and how hard they worked. I’m really glad they got rewarded with a win tonight. We didn’t play perfect, but guys played hard and prepared the last couple weeks to play hard.”

Quoting Buckeye junior forward Quinn Preston

On senior goalie Tommy Nappier

“Napes is a brick wall back there. You have to love playing in front of a goalie like that. He bails you out in a lot of situations that other goalies can’t. It’s a tribute to him and how he plays. He plays hard and never gives up on pucks.”

 

Ohio State vs. Penn State

In the First … Ohio State led 2-0 midway through the first. At 2:20 senior captain Austin Pooley opened the scoring. Layton Ahac led him between the PSU defensemen and he converted for his first tally of the season. Senior Grant Gabriele also assisted on the goal. At 8:39 a shot by Ahac deflected off Collin Peters in front for a 2-0 Ohio State advantage. Pooley had the second assist on the score, which was Peters’ first goal of the year. At 12:36 Jimmy Dowd Jr., put the Nittany Lions on the board with a power play goal. Shots were 11-10 in favor of Penn State in the period.

In the Second … Ohio State extended the lead to 3-1 just 1:30 into the period when freshman Travis Treloar scored on a backhand. Quinn Preston started the play, breaking up a play in the PSU zone and finding Treloar outside the crease. At 17:52 Penn State drew within one when Aarne Talvitie tallied. The Nittany Lions outshot the Buckeyes, 20-6, in the period and the Buckeye penalty kill was 3-for-3 in the stanza.

In the Third … The Buckeyes notched two goals in the first 3:16 of the period. At 1:20 Preston deflected a PSU pass out of the Ohio State zone and won the race to the puck, scoring on an odd-man rush. Ohio State converted its only power play chance of the night at 3:16. After the faceoff to start the man advantage, the puck went to the back wall, where Preston won the battle, getting the puck to Mark Cheremeta, who found Treloar just inside the faceoff circle for a quick shot, extending the Buckeye advantage to 5-2.

At 18:36 Penn State’s Tim Doherty scored for a 5-3 Ohio State lead. Penn State pulled its goalie soon after and Pooley sealed the win with an empty net goal, converting a rebound of a shot by Peters that went wide and off the back boards. Shots were 12-5 in favor of Penn State in the period.

Shots … For the game, the Buckeyes were outshot, 43-21. Tommy Nappier had 40 saves in 60 minutes for the Buckeyes, his third game this year with 40+ shots.

The Buckeyes had 28 shot blocks. Preston led the way with a career-high six, while Ahac, Ryan O’Connell, Jaedon Leslie and Gabriele each had three.

Special Teams … The Buckeyes were 1-for-1 on the power play and are now 9-for-33 (.273) on the year. The penalty kill was 4-for-5.

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