Oct. 29, 2014
| PENN STATE vs. BENTLEY | |
| 3-1-2 (0-0-0-0 B1G) | 3-2-0 (1-1-0 AHA) |
| Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. | |
| Friday, Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. | |
| Pegula Ice Arena | University Park, Pa. | |
| GAME DAY CENTRAL |
| THURSDAY: Live Video ($) TV: BIG TEN NETWORK --> | Live Audio ($) | |
| THURSDAY RADIO: 103.1 WRSC FM // 1430 AM WVAM |
| FRIDAY: Live Video ($) TV: BIG TEN NETWORK --> | Live Audio ($) | |
| FRIDAY RADIO: Penn State Sports Network |
| Men's Hockey Blog | 2014-15 Yearbook |
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| TEAM STATISTICS Penn State | Bentley |
| PROMOTIONS Friday: Student chance to win Capitals tickets Sunday: Student Hockey Mask Giveaway // Costume Contests |
| TICKET EXCHANGE Buy & Sell Tickets to PSU Men's Hockey Games |
| INSIDE THE NUMBERS | ||
| PSU | BEN | |
| 3-1-2 | Overall Record | 3-2-0 |
| 0-0-0-0 | Conference Record | 1-1-0 |
| 25 | Goals Scored | 19 |
| 12 | Goals Allowed | 13 |
| 4.2 | Goals Scored/gm. | 3.8 |
| 2.0 | Goals Allowed/gm. | 2.6 |
| 242 | Shots | 117 |
| 40.3 | Shots/gm. | 23.4 |
| 42 | Assists | 29 |
| 7-27 | Power Plays | 6-23 |
| .259 | Power-Play Pct. | .261 |
| 15-17 | Penalty Kills | 27-30 |
| .882 | Penalty-Kill Pct. | .900 |
| 163 | Saves | 119 |
| 0 | Shutouts | 1 |
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State men's hockey will wrap its home schedule of the fall semester when Bentley visits Pegula Ice Arena for a two-game series Thursday-Friday, Oct. 30-31. Both games are slated for 7 p.m. puck drops.
The Nittany Lions will face their second straight Atlantic Hockey Association foe in Bentley after sweeping Holy Cross this past weekend. Penn State is 3-0-1 this year at Pegula Ice Arena and 7-12-2 all-time at Curtin and University. Against AHA teams, PSU is 11-10-1 all-time.
Both games this weekend will be carried via live stream for fans to watch if they can't make it to Pegula Ice Arena on GoPSUsports.com through CBS College Sports Live (GoPSUsports.com/College Sports Live). PSU will be hosting its second and third of eight home games on GoPSUsports.com/College Sports Live.
PEGULA ICE ARENA BAG POLICY
Fans attending Penn State men's hockey games at Pegula Ice Arena will have to comply with the updated Penn State University Bag Policy. Fans are advised that no backpacks or briefcases may be brought into the arena. For more information visit the Safety Policy SY44 Page or Penn State's Bag Policy Page.
PARKING & TRAFFIC INFORMATION
Parking for the games is $5 in the Jordan East and Stadium West Lots if you do not have a parking permit that came with your season tickets. Fans without tickets can log on to the Penn State Ticket Exchange for purchases.
Thursday only: Fans are reminded that there will be heavy traffic with three events in the East campus vicinity all starting at the exact same time with the Hunter Hayes concert at the Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State men's hockey at Pegula Ice Arena and Penn State women's soccer at Jeffrey Field all beginning at 7 p.m. Please be prepared for extra traffic and possibly longer wait times or parking availability further from your respective venue. Parking will be $5.00 per car in Stadium West and Jordan East for hockey and concert-goers. Shields, Wagner, Orange-F and Yellow-H South will be held for Hockey premium and event staff permits. Founder's, Preferred and Orange-L West and South will also be held for concert premium and event permits. Hockey season ticket holders can use their parking voucher for free parking and in addition, all vehicles displaying a current University parking permit will be admitted free of charge as well in Stadium West and Jordan East.
SCOUTING THE FALCONS
Bentley (3-2-0, 1-1-0 AHA) enters Thursday's game following an impressive two-game sweep at RPI. The Falcons beat RPI 5-2 and 4-0.
Bentley has been accurate with the few chances it has created this year. The Falcons take only 23.4 shots per game (48th in NCAA DI of 53 teams), but score at an impressive 16.2 percent clip. Bentley has out-scored its opponents 19-14, allowing just 26.4 shots per game.
The Falcons have been a slow starting, being out-scored 5-3 in the first period, but owning a 16-9 edge in the latter two frames.
On special teams, Bentley has the 10th best penalty kill (90 percent), allowing only three goals in 30 chances. The power play is tied for ninth nationally, scoring on 25 percent of its chances (6-for-24).
Individually, Max Frence has a team-high five points on three goals and two assists, while four other Falcons have four points each: Andgrew Gladiuk (4g), Matt Maher (1g, 3a), Alex Grieve (1g, 3a) and Derek Bacon (4a). Gladiuk leads the team with two power-play goals.
In net, junior Gabe Antoni (2-2-0) has played the majority of the time (203 minutes, four starts) with a 3.25 GAA and .882 save percentage. Senior Blake Doughterty has made two appearances and one start with a 1.26 GAA and .949 save percentage in 95 minutes of action.
NITTANY LIONS SWEEP CRUSADERS
Penn State earned its first sweep at Pegula Ice Arena in dominating fashion, beating Holy Cross by scores of 3-1 and 7-1. PSU never trailed during the weekend that saw the Nittany Lions on a record amount of power plays (16) over a two-game span.
Eric Scheid's game-winner Friday night came on PSU's eighth power play chance en route to the 3-1 win. Ricky DeRosa scored in the second period and Casey Bailey scored late in the third as Matthew Skoff saved 29 Holy Cross shots.
On Sunday, Penn State was held scoreless by HC for the second straight game. Nevertheless, back-to-back goals by Bailey and Curtis Loik gave the Lions a 2-0 lead entering the second intermission. Penn State put the game out of reach with five third-period goals, two of which game in the first five minutes from Scheid and David Glen. Scott Conway scored two goals and had two assists on the afternoon, while Jacob Friedman added his first goal against a Division I opponent. Skoff had 28 saves, while Loik posted three points.
SKOFF EARNS SECOND B1G HONOR
For the second time this season, junior goaltender Matthew Skoff was named the third star of the week by the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday morning (Oct. 28).
Skoff put together impressive back-to-back showings to help the Nittany Lions sweep their first series at Pegula Ice Arena, beating Holy Cross by scores of 3-1 and 7-1. For the weekend, Skoff stopped 57 of the 59 shots he faced and allowed just a 1.00 GAA.
On Friday, he saved 29 of 30 shots including 14 first-period shots against the Crusaders. On Sunday, he saved 28 of 29 shots in the 7-1 victory. Skoff has started in all six games this year for the Nittany Lions, who are off to their best start in the Division I era at 3-1-2.
LIONS BOAST CHART-TOPPING OFFENSE
Penn State has had little difficulty putting the puck in the net this season. The Nittany Lions are second in the nation in shots (40.33 per game) and tied atop the scoring charts for goals scored (25) with Union and Notre Dame.
PSU's goal differential is plus-13, which ranks third in the nation, while the Nittany Lions are tied for fourth in power-play goals (7).
Among Big Ten teams, Penn State leads in goals (25), goal differential (+13), power-play goals (7), while tying for first in fewest goals against per game (2.00) and fewest power-play goals conceded (2).
Individually, Taylor Holstrom is tied for third nationally in total assists (6), fourth in total points (8), while Eric Scheid is tied for second in game-winning goals (2). Defenseman Patrick Koudys is tied for second in the country for plus-minus rating (+8). Matthew Skoff is fifth in saves (163).
Nittany Lions top the conference charts in points (Holstrom), goals (Scheid, Casey Bailey), Assists (Holstrom), game-winners (Scheid), plus-minus (Koudys), saves (Skoff) and goals-against average (Skoff).
SECOND PERIOD IS BEST
Penn State's best period this year is the second, with a 12-3 scoring advantage. PSU has out-scored its opponents in all three periods (4-2 in the 1st, 9-7 in the 3rd). The Nittany Lions have dominated the shooting in the second (80-56) as compared to the other two periods (74-54, 1st; 80-60, 3rd).
JUNIORS PROVIDING THE SCORING
Penn State's juniors have been the most productive class in scoring this year with 14 goals, 16 assists and 30 points. The three other classes combined have totaled 11 goals, 26 assists and 37 points.
EVEN-STRENGTH GETTING IT DONE
Penn State has a plus-13 goal differential this year because of two key situations: 5-on-5 (+6) and 5-on-4 power play (+7).
GETTING THE SHOTS ON GOAL
Penn State's offense has averaged 40.33 shots per game, second in the country. The Nittany Lions have been scoring over 10 percent of their shots on goal, while last year only converting 6.3 percent. PSU managed 35.2 shots per game.
AVOIDING THE PENALTY BOX
Penn State has been less penalized in 2014-15, averaging 3.8 penalties per game and 9.5 minutes per game, resulting in 17 power play chances for its opponents (11.8 conversion rate). Last year, The Nittany Lions were committing 5.3 for 12.3 minutes per game and teams were capitalizing on 18.9 percent of the resulting power plays.
BALANCED NITTANY LION SCORING
Penn State has 25 goals through four games, an average of 4.17 goals as opposed to last year's 2.22 average.
Moreover, 14 different Nittany Lions have already registered a goal this season with a total of 20 Lions recording a point. In 2013-14 alone, 16 Lions scored goals with 21 total earning points.
BLOCKING SUCCESS
Penn State's defense has allowed an average of 29.2 shots per game to reach Matthew Skoff's net this year in good part of the blocking ability of PSU's defensive corps, which has stopped 77 from reaching frame.
Junior Connor Varley tops the team with 11 blocked shots, followed by redshirt-senior captain Patrick Koudys (9) and Luke Juha (8).
SKOFF GETS THE NOD IN 2014-15
Proclaimed the starter by head coach Guy Gadowsky in the offseason, junior Matthew Skoff started the final 11-of-15 games for the Nittany Lions last season, while compiling an 8-13-2 record with a 2.95 goals-against average, .906 save percentage and a shutout.
This season, Skoff has started all six games becoming the goalie of record in a career-best nine straight games dating to last season.
Skoff's career record stands at 20-22-4, starting 3-1-2 this year. He has a 1.96 GAA and a .931 save percentage this season, which is better than his career numbers of 2.65 and .915.
NEXT TIME OUT
Penn State gets a nearly two-week break before its next games at UMass Lowell (Nov. 14 at 7:15 p.m.;Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.). Those two games will count toward the Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge.