UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The No. 12/9 Penn State men's ice hockey team welcomes Robert Morris University to Pegula Ice Arena for a single contest on Friday night with puck drop slated for 7 p.m.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Dates: Friday, October 25
Place: Pegula Ice Arena
Time: 7 p.m.
Tickets: Friday
BTN+ Video ($): Friday
Listen: Friday
Live Statistics: Live Stats
Game Notes: Penn State
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
- Robert Morris makes a return trip to Hockey Valley having lost each of its first two contests inside Pegula Ice Arena during the past two seasons. This marks the 11th meeting all-time between the two programs, but just the third at Pegula Ice Arena. Penn State leads the all-time series 6-4-0 including four-straight victories.
- The Nittany Lions have outscored RMU 14-6 in the two previous contests at Pegula and over the last four games have a 30-14 goal scoring advantage including a program record 11 goals in the last meeting on November 10, 2018.
- Prior to the 2017-18 season, Robert Morris held a 4-2-0 record in the all-time series and the 35-16 advantage on the scoreboard.
- Since Penn State made the leap to Division I prior to the 2012-13 season, the teams have played each other at least once in each season except 2016-17.
- Penn State is 33-14-2 all-time vs. Atlantic Hockey opponents with seven-straight victories. In those seven victories the Nittany Lions are outscoring its opponents 50-22, averaging 7.14 goals per game.
- The two teams conclude the season series with a single contest at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday, January 11, 2020.
SCOUTING BOBBY MO
- The Colonials enter this contest 3-3-0 on the year and have won three of their last four after being swept by Michigan Tech during the opening weekend of competition. RMU is 3-1-0 in Atlantic Hockey play outscoring conference opponents 11-5 early in the year.
- Bobby Mo is led by Ferris State transfer goaltender Justin Kapelmaster who has started five of the six games this season between the pipes posting a .964 save percentage and a 1.38 goals against average ranking second and fifth in the nation, respectively, in each category. Kapelmaster has stopped 189 of 196 shots already this season averaging 37.8 saves per contest.
- The Colonials entered the season without three of their top-six scorers from a season ago including leading scorer Alex Tonge, but they did return second leading scorer Luke Lynch for his senior season. Lynch hasn't found the back of the net this season after being one of just two players to hit double-digit goals last season for RMU.
- Robert Morris is paced on offense by sophomore Justin Addamo with six points on one goal and five helpers through the first six games this season. Nick Prkusic, Nick Jenny and Aidan Spellacy have each scored twice this season to pace the offense.
- RMU has struggled to stay out of the penalty box in its first six games averaging 6.5 penalties per game, but have successfully killed off 34-of-39 power-plays to rank 22nd in the nation at 87.2 percent. The Colonials' 34 kills and 39 total PK chances are the most in the nation. On the other side, Bobby Mo's power-play ranks 29th converting on just four of 27 chances, 14.8 percent.
MMMMM DONUTS
- Penn State secured its first shutout in over a year last Thursday night during a 7-0 victory over Alaska-Fairbanks. The shutout was also the fourth career donut for senior goaltender Peyton Jones breaking a tie he had with Matthew Skoff '16 for first all-time in program history.
- The seven goals scored also marked the 21st time that Penn State has scored at least seven goals in a single contest all-time and second already this season. PSU accomplished this feat seven times during the 2018-19 season.
- The following night the Nittany Lions were on the other side of a shutout, just the second time ever at Pegula Ice Arena that Penn State failed to find the back of the net and the first since the fourth game ever in the building on Novemer 14, 2013. The shutout was also the first time in over a year Penn State has been shutout dating back to a 4-0 setback at Michigan on January 19, 2018.
100-POINT CLUB
- Senior Denis Smirnov became the fifth member of the 100-point club at Penn State last Thursday. Smirnov scored once while adding two assists and now has 101 career points ranking fourth in the nation among active players.
- Senior classmate Brandon Biro added two points of his own last Thursday and currently sits at 99 career points ranking sixth nationally among active players.
MR. JONES
- Peyton Jones made 29 saves last Thursday notching his first shutout in over a year and the fourth of his career. The senior currently ranks second in the Big Ten and 11th in the nation with a .939 save percentage while his 2.00 goals against average is good for third in the conference and 24th nationally.
FAST START, STRONG FINISH
- Penn State has jumped out to early leads in three of its first four games while outscoring opponents 8-1 over the opening 20 minutes of play so far this season. The Nittany Lions have also closed strong offensively with nine third period goals. PSU is 3-0-0 when scoring first this season.
- Last season the second period was the strongest for the Nittany Lions with 71 goals and a +16-goal differential, however, this season Penn State has only scored three second period goals in four games.
NATE THE GREAT
- Senior Nate Sucese has had himself a productive start to the season with ten points on two goals and eight assists through the first four games. The senior's eight assists and ten points along with his 2.50 points per game average currently top the nation.
- Sucese also ranks third among active players in the country with 112 points trailing only Minnesota State's Marc Michaelis (123) and Ohio State's Tanner Laczynski (113).His 52 goals are also just three shy of Michaelis for the national lead among active players.
- Sucese also crept up the Penn State all-time scoring list moving into third all-time with his 112 points just six behind Chase Berger '19 (118) and 16 behind David Goodwin '17 (128). The senior also moved into second all-time on the Penn State goals list with 52 and is currently just two shy of Andrew Sturtz's program record.
SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS
- Penn State has scored six power-play goals on 23 attempts so far this season for a 26.1 percent conversion rate to rank fourth in the Big Ten and 14th in the nation.
- The Nittany Lion PK has also seen early season success allowing just two man-advantage goals on 20 opponent opportunities ranking fourth in the Big Ten and 17th in the nation. PSU allowed a goal on its first penalty of the season and since then have killed off 18-of-19 including 11-straight.
NEXT UP
- Penn State opens Big Ten play when they host the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers for a two-game series next Thursday and Friday evening. Both games will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network.
For more information on the 2019-20 season presented by the Penn State Bookstore: the Official Bookstore of Penn State Athletics, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.