MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 7 Minnesota used three third period goals, including two on the powerplay, to defeat Penn State, 4-2, and earn a series split in Big Ten Conference action on Saturday evening inside 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Penn State falls to 7-6-0 on the year and 1-5-0 in the Big Ten following the loss while the Gophers improve to 8-6-0 on the year and 5-3-0-0-1-0 in conference action.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a scoreless first period, Penn State opened the scoring for the second-consecutive night as freshman Ben Schoen (Maumee, Ohio) sent a rising shot high off the back glass and it bounced right to the stick of sophomore Jimmy Dowd Jr. (Point Pleasant Beach, N.Y.) who slammed it in at the back door for the 1-0 edge at the 5:45 mark.
- Minnesota evened the score as Sammy Walker took a stretch pass from Jackson Lacombe and skated in on a partial breakaway firing a laser over the blocker of Nittany Lion senior net-minder Oskar Autio (Espoo, Finland) and inside the far post for the 1-1 score at 11:49 of the middle frame.
- The Gophers took their first lead of the game with a powerplay tally early in the third period as Matthew Knies slipped one through Autio's five-hole at the far post for the 2-1 lead at the 4:57 mark.
- The Nittany Lions secured the equalizer off an offensive zone draw as junior Kevin Wall (Penfield, N.Y.) backhanded home a rebound on the welcome mat after freshman Ryan Kirwan's (DeWitt, N.Y.) initial shot was turned aside for the 2-2 score at 12:24 of the third period.
- Minnesota took advantage of an extended 5-on-3 powerplay to regain the lead as Mason Nevers lit the lamp right as the first PSU penalty expired for the 3-2 lead at 14:49 of the third period.
- Walker added the final tally with an empty netter with 1:22 remaining in the game to account for the 4-2 final.
GOALTENDING
- Autio falls to 5-4-0 on the year after a 25-save performance while LaFontaine stopped 35-of-37 shots to move run his record to 8-6-0.
NOTES
- The win is just the fifth for the Gophers against Penn State in the last 19 meetings.
- Penn State's first goal of the game marks the tenth time in 13 games the Nittany Lions have scored first but they are now 7-3-0 this season when doing so.
- With his second period assist, Schoen has now registered points in back-to-back games for the second time in his career.
- Sophomore Christian Sarlo (Lynbrook, N.Y.) collected the secondary assist on Dowd's second period goal and has now registered points in back-to-back games and is one game shy of his career-long three-game point streak from last season.
- With his third period goal, Wall has extended his point streak against the Gophers to five games and now has eight points in eight career games against Minnesota failing to register at least one point in just one of those contests.
- Kirwan now has points in three-straight games for a new career-best point streak.
- With his third period assist, Copeland extends his point streak to four games three games but sees his career-best three game goal streak snapped. Copeland has now registered at least one point in eight of his last nine games.
- Penn State held the 37-29 edge in shots on goal but went 0-for-4 on the man-advantage while Minnesota was 2-for-4.
- After outscoring the Gophers 2-0 in the third period last night, Minnesota returned the favor with a 3-1 margin over the final 20 minutes on Saturday night. Penn State has now allowed two or more third period goals in six times with the opponent scoring three or more goals in four of those instances.
NEXT UP
The Nittany Lions have a quick turnaround as they remain in the Twin Cities and begin a two-game series with the St. Thomas Tommies on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. (CT) / 8 p.m. (ET).
For more information on the 2021-22 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.