TEMPE, Ariz. – Freshman Gavin McKenna (Whitehorse, Yukon) netted the game-winning goal on the powerplay late in the third period as No. 5 Penn State used four unanswered third period goals for the second-straight night to down No. 14 Arizona State, 4-2, and complete the weekend sweep of the Sun Devils in non-conference action at Mullett Arena on Saturday night.
Along with the powerplay tally, the Nittany Lions went a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill including a 4-for-4 mark in the third period once they tied the game which included an extended 5-on-3 kill midway through the period to set up the moment by McKenna. The man-advantage finished 1-for-3 on the night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Following a scoreless opening period, Arizona State (0-2-0) broke the ice taking advantage of a 3-on-1 rush up the ice as Bennett Schimek skated into the left dot and wired a wrister to the back of the net for the 1-0 lead at the 2:07 mark.
- The Sun Devils extended the lead with a goal in transition as Cruz Lucius displayed some slick mitts atop the goal crease after a feed from Sean McGurn for the 2-0 advantage at 14:19 of the middle stanza.
- Penn State (2-0-0) would eventually cut the deficit in half with a shorthanded tally as sophomore Nic Chin-DeGraves (Edmonton, Alberta) collected the puck in his own zone and skated coast-to-coast before cutting through the slot and firing off the far post and in for the 2-1 score at 5:29 of the third period.
- The Nittany Lions then tied the contest off an offensive zone draw as sophomore JJ Wiebusch (Verona, Wis.) slipped the puck through the legs of Sun Devil net-minder Connor Hasley for the 2-2 score at 8:30 of the final frame.
- A beautiful passing sequence by junior classmates Aiden Fink (Calgary, Alberta) and Mac Gadowsky (State College, Pa.) set up McKenna’s game-winner as Gadowsky sent a beautiful cross seam pass and the rookie went down to a knee and blasted a one-timer into the back of the net from just above the right dot for the 3-2 lead at 18:07 of the third period.
- Junior captain Dane Dowiak (Pittsburgh, Pa.) then sealed the deal by hitting the empty net for the 4-2 final with just seven ticks remaining to complete the sweep.
GOALTENDING
Sophomore goaltender Kevin Reidler (Galve, Sweden) registered a career-best 45 saves to improve to 2-0-0 on the year while his counterpart, Connor Hasley dropped to 0-2-0 after making 42 stops in the setback.
NOTES
- Arizona State held the slim 47-46 edge in shots on goal while going 1-for-3 on the man-advantage and a perfect 6-for-6 on the penalty kill.
- The Nittany Lions improve to 9-1-0 all-time against the Sun Devils following the sweep and are now a perfect 4-0-0 on the road.
- With one goal and one assist Dowiak secures his first multi-point effort of the season and the sixth of his career.
- Sophomore Charlie Cerrato (Fallston, Md.) and junior Matt DiMarsico (Wexford, Pa.) registered the assists on Wiebusch’s game-tying tally giving that line a combined 14 points on the weekend with six goals and eight assists.
NEXT UP
Penn State returns home for a six-game non-conference homestand beginning next Thursday and Friday against Clarkson. Thursday’s contest will be broadcast nationally on the B1G Network with a puck drop slated for 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the 2025-26 season, visit the men's hockey page at GoPSUsports.com or call 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.