Men’s Hockey Shuts Out Vermont
This weekend, the Penn State men’s hockey team traveled to the Wells Fargo Center for the fourth annual Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff against the University of Vermont. This is the fourth consecutive season the Nittany Lions and Catamounts have met, with Penn State holding a 3-1-0 series edge after their 4-0 shutout Sunday afternoon.
Penn State thought they had taken an early lead two minutes into the first period after Alec Marsh put the brakes on and sent a man flying into the bench and dished the puck off to David Glen, who was able to bury it.
The goal was called back after the review, as the call was incidental contact with the goalie.
Two minutes later, Zach Saar went to the box for boarding, but Penn State was able to kill off the penalty, only allowing Vermont to get one shot on goal.
The physicality from both teams started to greatly pick up midway through the first period with both teams landing some big hits and laying guys out all over the ice.
At the 8:16 mark of the first, Vermont’s Yvan Pattyn was sent to the box for elbowing, giving Penn State their first power play opportunity of the night.
Saar was able to score his second goal of the year on the power play, as the assists came from Luke Juha and Kenny Brooks.
The hits kept piling up, especially in front of Vermont’s net as the Catamounts were doing all they could to keep the crashing Nittany Lions out.
Mike Lee was called for another Vermont penalty at 12:49 for handling the puck with his hands but the Catamounts were able to keep their net clean on this penalty kill.
The period finished with Penn State leading 14-5 in shots and 1-0 on the board.
Quickly into the second period, both teams were sent to the box. David Goodwin was penalized for embellishment, a rare call on the ice, and Vermont’s Anthony Petruzzelli for hitting from behind.
Both teams saw quality opportunities on the four on four, but neither were able to capitalize.
With 11:52 left to go in the period, Vermont saw what was perhaps their best opportunity of the night.
With the Catamounts on the power play, they crashed down on Eamon McAdam, but McAdam hit the puck up into the air and Vince Pedrie was able to swat the puck out of the air with his stick, likely saving a Vermont goal.
The second period was marred by penalties. Penn State players found the box four times and Vermont found the box three times.
The Nittany Lions were able to find the back of the net on another power play opportunity. Dylan Richard scored his fifth power play goal of the year, giving Penn State the 2-0 lead heading into the third.
The Nittany Lions were able to put the game away early into the third period as Chase Berger buried the rebound off of a Curtis Loik shot.
With 31 seconds left in the game, Richard fired one low glove side to give Penn State the 4-0 victory over Vermont.
McAdam finished the game with 30 saves and recorded his first career shutout along with Penn State’s first since last February.
Penn State is back in action next weekend, starting conference play at home against Michigan State.
Bria Donnelly is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact email bmd5311@psu.edu.
