The Buckeyes blocked a season-high 34 shots during their win over Penn State.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Ohio State men’s hockey team scored three goals in the third period to down No. 1/2-ranked Penn State, 6-3, Friday in Pegula Ice Arena. The Buckeyes led 2-1 after the first period but the teams were tied at three after 40 minutes. Ohio State scored twice in the first two minutes of the third to take control.
The game ended the regular season series between the teams, with the Buckeyes ahead 2-1-1 with a shootout win Friday. Ohio State is now 12-4-6 overall and 3-2-1-1 in B1G action. Penn State falls to 16-3-2 and 5-2-1-0 B1G.
Highlights from the Buckeyes' victory at Penn State. https://t.co/fbHczjo5GI #GoBucks
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) January 22, 2017
The Buckeyes return home to face Wisconsin at 7 p.m. Thursday. The series will then move to Madison Square Garden in New York City, as the teams will face off at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Penn State scored the first goal of the game early in the first, but the Buckeyes scored the next three for a 3-1 advantage. John Wiitala and Mason Jobst scored in the first, with Dakota Joshua tallying 18 seconds into the middle period. Penn State drew within one at 7:17 of the second. The Buckeyes killed off a five-minute major midway through the period to maintain their lead, but Penn State scored in the final minute of the period for a 3-3 game.
"We talk a lot about next man up, and I give credit to a lot of guys that were out there today," said Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik. "That’s how you win down the stretch. You win because you have a team. They push each other each day in practice.”
The Buckeyes scored twice in the first 1:41 of the third, with Matthew Weis and Luke Stork lighting the lamp. Christian Lampasso sealed the win with a goal at 17:10. Senior goalie Christian Frey had 41 saves in the win, while the Buckeyes blocked 34 shots.
“I couldn’t have been happier with the way the guys gutted out two wins this weekend," said Frey. "I think we'll be able to look back on this weekend as when we came into our own as a team to beat.”
Jobst, Joshua and Stork each had two points on a goal and an assist, while David Gust had two helpers in the win.
