Feb. 27, 2014
By Michael Renahan, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Throughout the early parts of the 2013-14 season, there was a question looming at each of head coach Guy Gadowsky's press conferences. It was a question he didn't have the answer for, but it was something that was on his mind.
"When is Casey Bailey going to start scoring?"
Bailey had been such a major contributor during the team's inaugural Division I season, but he never really found that rhythm early in his sophomore campaign.
As a freshman, he was one of only four Nittany Lions to skate in all 27 games, leading the team in points (27), power-play goals (4), and finishing second in goals (14) and assists (13).
Bailey was getting his shots in the games, practicing hard, and playing "his style" of hockey. The results, however, just weren't there.
Then, on Feb. 1 at Ohio State, everything started to change. Bailey found his groove.
"I think he final stopped thinking about scoring goals and was just focused on playing high-quality hockey like he used to," Gadowsky said. "When we first recruited him, what really attracted us to him [Casey] was how hard he worked back-checking, how hard he worked fore-checking and how many battles he won in the corners. He is a very instinctual player...and he does a lot of little things."
Gadowsky also thinks it might be a little divine intervention.
"When you are playing really good, quality hockey like Casey has all season, the hockey gods seem to shine on you," Gadowsky said. "I believe that's what you see now. I think he was pressing so hard thinking he had to score goals early in the year. He is still focused on scoring now, but he's letting them [goals] come to him rather than forcing things."
Over the course of the last month, Bailey's shots started to find the back of the net, while his passes couldn't be crisper and more on point. The Anchorage, Alaska, native started to gel with his line mates and bring out the best in them, too.
"At the beginning of the season, I was just trying to do too much," said Bailey. "I think I really calmed down here in the second half, and I'm finding my stride with new line mates, and I think I'm building confidence each game.
"I kind of just put it [scoring] in the back of my mind and focused on doing the small things. I think when you do the little things, the goals just come a little easier."
Specifically, Bailey has been a key contributor during the month of February. Against then-No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor last weekend, the sophomore contributed two goals in Penn State's win over the Wolverines on Friday night.
Those two goals gave him six points in eight games on the month, which more than doubled his season totals entering February. He had two goals and two assist from Oct. 11-Jan. 31, but put up five goals and one assist over the last 27 days, with a chance to add more on Friday at Minnesota.
"I think, and I'm sure Casey would agree, when you start thinking about it [scoring] too much it can be a distraction," forward David Goodwin said. "For Casey, both his goals this weekend were one-timers. He just shot the puck, and that's what Casey does. If he can just shoot the puck with confidence and have some fun out there and let the game come to him, I think that is when he has the most success, and I think we saw that this weekend."
Bailey is currently fifth on the team with ten points and his seven goals tie him for second with Goodwin, and trail only Eric Scheid's 11 goals. The sophomore is not being shy about shooting the puck, either, launching 94 shots to lead the team.
As Penn State prepares to hit the road again this weekend for a showdown with Big Ten leader and No. 2 Minnesota, you can bet the sophomore is anxious to get back on the ice and continue his strong play.
"I just want to bring as much offense as I can to the games," said Bailey. "I'm a shooter. I need to get pucks to the net and I want to get to the net. So I think it's all about doing the little things: getting the pucks behind the defense, getting the pucks to the net and doing those little things. Then the chances will come."