Feb. 25, 2016
By Jack Milewski, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Playoff hockey is different. Ask anyone involved with the game of hockey and they will agree with that statement.
After a hard fought come from behind 2-2 tie last Saturday at Mercyhurst, Penn State earned a College Hockey America (CHA) conference third place regular season finish - its highest in program history. This season will also mark the second year in a row that Penn State will host the first round of the CHA playoffs at Pegula Ice Arena.
"We've been saying for a while that there is nothing better than playoff hockey," said captain Shannon Yoxheimer. "To be able to play at home as well is a really big deal for us too. Knowing that the senior week series wasn't our last home game is nice and it is always exciting to have one more series here."
The team is even more excited after the performance that they put forth against Mercyhurst, a team that is 14-4-3 in CHA conference play. Despite a loss Friday, the 2-2 tie on Saturday showed just how much this team has grown and improved since the calendar has turned to 2016.
"I think it was one of our best team games overall," said Laura Bowman. "We stuck with each other in that second game. One of the things were working on before the playoffs is stopping in front of the net so we can get those second chance opportunities."
Only a day separates the Penn State women's hockey team from their first game of the best of three against RIT. However, a lot separates regular season play from the postseason, as Yoxheimer and Bowman know well.
"I think it's just the excitement of the playoffs," said Yoxheimer. "When it comes to this time of the year, it is an all out overall battle. During the season it is a battle but it is even more of a fight during the playoffs."
For head coach Josh Brandwene, he said he was very pleased with the grit that the Penn State team showed during their trip to Mercyhurst. As Bowman said, the Nittany Lions were skating hard and battling for every loose puck. Brandwene says that the type of grittiness that Penn State exhibited in the matchup this past weekend is exactly the kind of fight that they need heading into the playoffs.
"Grit with a capital G during the playoffs," said Brandwene. "It's something that this team has demonstrated all year and it's something that we have gotten better and better at as well. When it comes down to it, this is one resilient group."
Despite the added emotions of the playoffs and also the added game in the now best of three series, Penn State is keeping the mentality of one game at a time heading into Friday's matchup against RIT. For the seniors on the team, this is a matchup that they have now been in 20 times since they came to Penn State. With all that familiarity, there are no secrets between the two teams.
Bowman said, "If we can play our game and skate as well as we do, I have confidence that we can win. We are just focused on Friday."
Friday marks the start of the playoffs, not just another game. Although it may seem like it, being played by the same teams on the same sheet of ice, there is always something different about playoff hockey.
"If you think about it, logically nothing changes," said Brandwene. "At the same time, it's the most fun time of the year. Playoffs in any sport are exciting and the atmosphere you have in playoff hockey, nothing can compare to it."
Game one of the best of three series kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night. Game two is set for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and if necessary game three will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m.