Buckeyes Fall to Nittany Lions, 4-3

Saturday, January 27

University Park, Pa.

6:00 PM

Ohio State

9-13-4, 1-13-2

Penn State University

12-11-3, 4-9-3

Ohio State

Penn State

Photo by: Mark Selders - Penn State Athletics

Buckeyes Fall to Nittany Lions, 4-3

1/27/2024 10:32:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's hockey team lost game two of its weekend series to Penn State, 4-3, Saturday in Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa. Penn State led 1-0 after the first period and pushed the lead to 3-0 in the second. Ohio State tallied the next three for a tie game with just over 13 minutes left in regulation, but the Nittany Lions netted the eventual gamewinner on the power play with less than five minutes remaining.

The series was the first of the season between the Buckeyes (9-13-4, 1-13-2 0-0-2 B1G) and Nittany Lions (12-11-3, 4-9-3 0-0-2 B1G). Penn State posted a sweep, with a 4-3 victory Friday. The teams will close out the regular season with a series in Columbus March 1-2.

Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
"We dug ourselves a hole and got into penalty trouble. We were able to battle back and found a way to get even. We were relentless to the end. It just wasn't enough to get the win."

How it Happened

Penn State opened the scoring with a 4-on-3 power play goal from Jacques Bouquot with just 48 seconds left in the first period.
The Nittany Lions outshot the Buckeyes 17-7 in the opening 20 minutes, with nine of the shots on their two power plays combined.
In the second, Aiden Fink tallied on a major power play at 8:18 and at 10:49 Jarod Crespo pushed the lead to 3-0 with an even strength tally.
Ohio State scored twice before the end of the period to draw within one.
William Smith notched his first career goal at 12:11. With the teams skating 4-on-4, Joe Dunlap carried into the PSU zone and passed to Brent Johnson. His pass from near the wall found Smith at the far post for a redirection.
On the power play, Patrick Guzzo put in the rebound of a Stephen Halliday shot that went off the back boards at 13:28. Theo Wallberg also assisted on the goal.
The teams combined for 26 shots (PSU 15, OSU 11), seven penalties and 36 penalty minutes in the middle frame.
Halliday notched a goal of his own at 6:55 of the third period to tie the game at three. Davis Burnside found Halliday in the middle with a pass and he was able to gather, turn and beat the goalie shortside. Scooter Brickey picked up the second assist on the tally.
Penn State took advantage of a power play chance at 13:33 to regain the lead, as Tyler Paquette scored from inside the faceoff circle.
Ohio State had 14 shots in the third period, with Penn State putting 12 on net.
The Buckeyes skated with the net empty for the final 1:12 and had three shot attempts, with two on goal, but could not draw back even.
For the second night in a row Buckeye goalie Kristoffer Eberly had a career-high 40 saves. The Buckeyes were outshot, 44-32. Ohio State had nine shot blocks, led by Brent Johnson with four, and PSU blocked 12 Ohio State attempts.
The Buckeyes were 1-for-2 on the power play, with Penn State 3-for-8.

Buckeye This and That

Halliday, who had his 18th career multiple-point game with a goal and an assist for two points, is first for the Buckeyes with 18 assists and 27 points and shares the goal lead with nine. He has a point in eight of the last nine games (5g, 9a, 14p).
Smith is the 20th Buckeye to score a goal this season.
Burnside is second on the squad with 15 assists and 19 points this year.
Brickey shares the team goal lead with nine and is third with 18 points.
Joe Dunlap has a point in five of the seven games he's played this season.
Guzzo leads the Buckeyes with five power play goals.
The Buckeyes are 22-for-95 (.232) on the power play this season and 10-for-29 (.345) with the man advantage in the nine games since returning from the December break.

Home Series vs. Michigan and Wisconsin Up Next

Ohio State will be back in Columbus to host No. 14 Michigan Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Value City Arena.
An open week follows before the Buckeyes welcome No. 3 Wisconsin Feb. 16 (6:30 p.m.) and Feb. 17 (4:30 p.m.).
In the series vs. both the Wolverines and the Badgers, game one will be streamed through Big Ten Plus, with game two on BTN.
Tickets for all home games can be purchased online HERE. Parking is free for men's hockey games in Value City Arena.