ROSEMONT, Ill. – Senior goaltender Peyton Jones (Langhorne, Pa.) was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week following his weekend performance against the then-No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers as announced by the league office Tuesday morning.
Jones slammed the door on the nation's second-ranked offense allowing just three goals on 66 shots including a season-high 38-save performance during a 6-1 victory on Thursday night. The senior then stopped 25 shots the following night to complete the sweep.
Jones also collected the secondary assist on Sam Sternschein's game-winning goal on Friday night as he played the puck away from the net after a shot attempt by Wisconsin's Wyatt Kalynuk. The loose puck was corralled by Nikita Pavlychev and taken up ice before dishing to Sternschein. The assist was the seventh of his career and first since he had four assists during the 2017-18 season.
With a .955 save percentage and 1.50 goals against average for the weekend, Jones led the Big Ten and ranked seventh and eighth in the nation, respectively. Overall, the senior's .947 save percentage leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the entire nation while his 1.67 goals against average is good for second and eighth. At 6-0-0, Jones is one of just four goalies with at least three starts this season to remain unbeaten while his 64 career victories are the most among active goaltenders.
Jones is the second Nittany Lion to be honored this season as junior Cole Hults (Stoughton, Wis.) earned Third Star accolades following the opening weekend of play.
This marks the eighth career weekly award for the senior net-minder, his third First-Star nod, the most by a single player in program history. Jones also holds career records for wins (64), games played and started (109), saves (2,986), shutouts (4), minutes (6445:50), and points/assists (7).
The sixth-ranked Nittany Lions close out their season opening nine-game home stand this weekend as they host Michigan State for a pair of Big Ten conference games on Friday and Saturday evening.
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.
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