UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- In a dogfight like the one Penn State and Wisconsin engaged in during the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament, it took digging deep from within to pull out a series win. When it mattered most, one of Penn State's key lines came up with the offensive prowess it desperately needed from the least surprising of sources.
After falling by a narrow 4-3 margin in Friday night's game, where Penn State saw all three goals factored into by the line of Alex Limoges, Evan Barratt, and Liam Folkes, the line knew once again how important it was to play their best at the right time.
"In big opportunities, big players come out," Limoges said. "We as a line know that we need to produce if we're going to win, so we just bear down and get to the net."
Limoges and Folkes made sure to account for that in every facet in Penn State's 6-2 win on Saturday, accounting for three of the six goals potted to force a winner-take-all Game 3.
"I went to bed after Game 2 knowing that the third game would be a war," Limoges said. "We're both fighting for our seasons and I was expecting to produce, but the way it happened was obviously pretty fun. It's tough to play three games in three days like that, but I didn't go into the game differently, you just want to help your team win."
Limoges' guess on how the final game between the Badgers and Nittany Lions would turn out proved to be spot-on. While Folkes would get Penn State on the board first, Wisconsin carried a 3-2 lead into the final minutes of the second period.
As Penn State countered with an aggressive forecheck, Folkes found Limoges who tied the game at three with just under two minutes to play in the middle frame.
Tasked with trying to explain the line's knack for being in the right places at the right times, head coach Guy Gadowsky suggested that they simply know where each other are on the ice, regardless of where the puck is.
"I think that it is a mental aspect, I'm not sure it has something to do with physical talent," Gadowsky said. "But I do know that as a group, they have a lot of synergy together and they can play fast because they don't really have to look around."
"They really feel and know where each other are, and I think it helps them play a quick game and they execute that aspect extremely well."
After a scoreless third, the teams headed into overtime, and that key line stepped up again.
Halfway into the first overtime period, roles were reversed as it was Limoges who found Folkes open in the slot to slap home the series-winning goal, leading to a frenzied celebration in front of the faithful at Pegula Ice Arena in a 4-3 win.
"This weekend, there was definitely a different mindset in the locker room," Limoges said. "Not just with our line but the entire team. And I think our line really took it to heart and we went out and kept it simple, trying to put the puck on the net."
Once again, the Lions faced turning points that might have divided a mentally weaker team. But, Penn State has faced adverse conditions at various points throughout the season, and it has united them when it matters most.
"I think we've improved greatly," Limoges said about his team's mental toughness. "We went through adversity this past weekend, and the previous weekends leading up this past series. We know [Ohio State] haven't played in a while, so we want to take it to them and start the fight."
Limoges and the Nittany Lions look forward to the challenge that playing an elite team like Ohio State will bring this coming weekend. Undaunted by the circumstances, they know that their goals for the season still lie right in front of them.
"It's a fun time of year," Limoges said. "It's fun to be playing well and it makes even better when you can do that in the playoffs. When things are going your way, it feels good and that's how it felt this past weekend. You play with confidence and the puck just comes your way."
