After a four-game win streak, and winning six of their first seven games prior to conference play, captain Paul DeNaples believes the team's grind has led to an increase in confidence.
"We proved to ourselves that we can beat teams like North Dakota, and in the Big Ten all teams are just as good," DeNaples said. "It's a good step in the right direction. We learned a lot of things about ourselves, and now we just have to get ready for Big Ten (play)."
After the Nittany Lions swept Niagara in late October, this past Saturday the team beat then-No. 6 North Dakota 6-4 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Forward Connor MacEachern lit the lamp twice on Saturday, and is second on the team in goals (four) and points (seven). MacEachern echoed DeNaples' sentiments, saying that the team's win streak has led to a good mindset.
"It definitely gives us a lot of confidence, 100 percent," MacEachern said. "We also have to recognize that we're playing (in) the Big Ten. It's one of the best conferences, if not the best conference in college hockey. We have to bring it every night, and anyone can beat anyone."
To DeNaples, the win streak has not only led to improved confidence across the board, but more importantly allowed the team to find their groove.
"That's one good thing… if you're coming off a couple losses you gotta get back in a rhythm," DeNaples said. "Once you get it going, everyone's confidence is up, everyone's believing in each other, and we're heading in the right direction."
Even with the team's chemistry improving, the Nittany Lions took nine penalties against North Dakota. It's something the captains and head coach Guy Gadowsky plan to work on before conference play kicks off this coming weekend.
"We're actually getting a little frustrated," Gadowsky said. "It's something that we've discussed at length and tried to place priority on, and this isn't the first weekend it's happened. That's an issue, and we don't have an answer yet."
Like his players, Gadowsky thinks the team's current momentum is a good thing. But, with how competitive the Big Ten is, he has reservations about it alone pushing the team to success.
"Just because we had success (against North Dakota) – it's very nice, it should give the team confidence … but it doesn't necessarily mean or guarantee anything, especially in this league," Gadowsky said.
Despite taking nine penalties on Saturday against the Fighting Hawks, the team found their beat, capitalizing on scoring chances, making smart moves in all zones, and in MacEachern's words, playing, "Penn State hockey."
With a good couple of games behind them, the team looks forward to the start of conference play at Ohio State on Friday. While the momentum doesn't promise anything, it certainly has given them a leg up mentally.
"It always feels good to have momentum as you start up conference play, (but it) doesn't make it easier by any means," alternate captain Clayton Phillips said. "We know how challenging it is to play in the Big Ten, and you know we're really just focused on the next game that's coming up. I think just having the same mentality of taking it one game, one shift at a time is what we will try to emulate here."
