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| Final | ||||
| #19 Penn State | 31 | 23 | 11 | 65 | |
| Canisius | 5 | 6 | 11 | 22 |
| Final | ||||
| #19 Penn State | 2-5 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 2-7 | |
| Canisius | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 0-3 |
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sophomore Vince Pedrie (Rochester, Minn.) potted the game-winning goal during a, 4-1, victory for No. 19 Penn State University over Canisius College in non-conference men's ice hockey action this evening from the Pegula Ice Arena.
The Nittany Lions improve to 4-1-1 on the year while the Golden Griffins fall to 2-4-1 overall.
"We came out to a great student section tonight. Right from the start, I think it really spurred us on," mentioned Head Coach Guy Gadowsky. "I think we had a very good first period. Albeit, we had power plays, but I think we were doing what we needed to do."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Penn State scorched 31 shots on net in the first 20 minutes and grabbed a pair of power-play goals for the early 2-0 lead at the first intermission.
- Freshman Brandon Biro (Sherwood Park, Alb.) registered the first goal of his career for the 1-0 lead after receiving a great pass from classmate Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.) he was able to beat Golden Griffin net-minder Daniel Urbani five-hole at 8:06 of the first period. Junior Trevor Hamilton (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich.) collected the second assist on the play.
- With time winding down in the opening frame freshman Denis Smirnov (Moscow, Russia) used a great tape-to-tape pass from above the left dot to find Pedrie below the right dot and the second-year defenseman picked his spot and was able to find the back of the net with just 3.6 seconds remaining in the period.
- Early in the second period the Lions extended their lead just seconds after a power-play chance expired as senior David Goodwin (Des Peres, Mo.) skated the puck up the left slot on an odd-man rush and sent a beautiful pass across the crease to sophomore Chase Berger (St. Louis, Mo.) who lit the lamp at 2:53 for the 3-0 lead.
- The Griffs showed some life as Dylan McLaughlin fired home a shot through a screen from the right point at 18:47 cutting the deficit to 3-1 heading into the second intermission.
- The Nittany Lions added an empty netter at 17:52 of the third period as Smirnov notched the second of his career with help from Goodwin for the 4-1 final.
GOALTENDING
Freshman Peyton Jones (Langhorne, Pa.) remains unbeaten on the young season after stopping 21 pucks to improve to 4-0-1. Urbani was the hard fought loser after collecting 61 saves to fall to 0-2-0 on the year.
NOTES
- Smirnov and Hamilton each extend their point-streak to six games, securing at least one point in each of their games played while wearing the Blue and White. Smirnov now leads the team with eight points after his second multi-point game of the season.
- Canisius was held without a shot on goal for the first 12:07 of the second period.
- Penn State outshot the visitors 65-22, it was the most shots they've had in a game since 67 against Sacred Heart on November 13, 2015.
- Penn State collected a pair of power-play goals off seven chances while their PK unit was again perfect going 3-for-3 including killing off a five-minute major while only allowing one shot on goal.
- Penn State had 20 shots on goal during the man-advantage.
- Pegula Ice Arena has now been sold out for 40 consecutive games.
"To kill the five minute [major penalty], I think we only gave up one shot, I thought was tremendous, and to me that was the game," concluded Gadowsky.
NEXT UP
Both teams return tomorrow for the series finale with a 7 p.m. puck drop.