SERIES STORYLINES
- This weekend marks the 28th and 29th meetings all-time between Penn State and Ohio State with the Buckeyes holding the 15-10-2 all-time advantage including winning the season series last year taking the final nine points after dropping the opening game. However, Penn State earned revenge by going into Columbus for the Big Ten semifinals and securing the 5-1 victory.
- This weekend pits the top offense in the Big Ten vs. the top defense in the Big Ten as Penn State is averaging 4.73 goals per game and Ohio State is allowing just 1.80.
- A big reason for the defensive success is junior goaltender Tommy Nappier who has played every minute between the pipes this season for OSU posting a 1.79 goals against average and a .935 save percentage to rank first and second in the Big Ten and seventh and 10th in the nation, respectively, for each category.
- Penn State is two points clear of Notre Dame leading the Big Ten with 15 points and a 5-1-0-0 record. The Nittany Lions also have 10 of the top-16 scorers in conference games this season including the top four as both Evan Barratt and Aarne Talvitie lead the conference with eight points in six games while Sternschein and Nate Sucese are right on their heels with seven conference points each.
STAT BREAKDOWN
PENN STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
17 EVAN BARRATT
FORWARD
- Barratt tallied five assists in this past weekend's two-game sweep at Minnesota. He has registered at least one assist in seven of Penn State's first 11 games.
- Barratt is second on the team with 10 assists. He also has two goals for 12 total points.
- Registered the third-highest single-season point total in program history with 43 in 2018-19.
14 NATE SUCESE (SR.)
FORWARD
- Sucese, the Big Ten Second Star of the Week, scored two goals at Minnesota last week to become the Nittany Lions' all-time goal leader (56). It was also his first multi-goal game of the season.
- Sucese is No. 2 on the Penn State all-time points list with 120, while his 56 goals and 64 assists rank him first and third, respectively.
- Played two seasons with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints, registering 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points.
31 PEYTON JONES (SR.)
GOALIE
- Jones had 60 saves and allowed just five goals in Penn State's two-game sweep of the Golden Gophers.
- Started 32 games in 2018-19 while compiling an 18-12-2 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.32 goals against average.
- He was a member of the USHL's Lincoln Starts from 2014-16.
HEAD COACH GUY GADOWSKY
- Gadowsky is in his eighth season at Penn State and 20th overall, boasting a 134-112-19 record with the Nittany Lions.
- He has led Penn State to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2017 Big Ten Tournament title. The 2016-17 team also achieved the program's first No. 1 national ranking in January and finished the season as the highest scoring team in the country, averaging 4.10 goals per game.
- Prior to his tenure in Happy Valley, Gadowsky was head coach at Princeton for seven seasons. He led the Tigers to two NCAA Tournament berths and coached 20 players who would go on to sign professional contracts.
- Gadowsky also previously served five seasons as head coach at Alaska, and three as head coach and director of operations for the WCHL's Fresno Falcons.
PEGULA ICE ARENA
- Capacity: 5,782
- Opened: September 9, 2013
- Home to the Nittany Lions' men's and women's hockey programs, as well as a 5,000-square foot weight room, hydrotherapy training room, steam room, team lounge and locker room area.
- Fans experience some of the best amenities in college hockey at Pegula, which boasts an interactive history of Penn State Hockey, concession stands, suites, loge boxes and club seats.
- The Centre County community is able to take advantage of the community rink, which is open nearly 360 days a year.
Credits:
Mark Selders, Craig Houtz