On Tuesday, Penn State captain Dane Dowiak announced he will miss the remainder of the season with an upper-body injury suffered last Friday night in Ann Arbor.
A steady presence down the middle and one of the team’s top faceoff options, Dowiak leaves a significant void. Beyond the faceoff circle, Dowiak’s leadership had shaped much of the group’s tone this season.
It is the kind of development that can destabilize a team late in the year.
Instead, it arrives at a moment when Penn State looks increasingly comfortable amid chaos, having dealt with injuries for the entirety of the 2025-26 season so far. The Nittany Lions will go the entire year without fielding a completely healthy roster as the injury bug started back in the summer months.
The Nittany Lions forced overtime in that game last Friday at No. 2 Michigan while skating with just nine healthy forwards after Dowiak was sidelined and sophomore JJ Wiebusch sent out early following a game misconduct penalty. Penn State navigated that five-minute major, however, they also had to kill multiple 4-on-3 penalties as well as a 5-on-3, which proved too much as the Wolverines capitalized on the two-man advantage.
The circumstances have shifted repeatedly this season — injuries, new line combinations, swings on special teams— but the response has grown steadier. Situations that once might have sped the game up now seem to settle it down.
“We learned that we can be a resilient group,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “We shouldn’t be afraid of it. Let’s move forward.”
That steadiness showed in Ann Arbor. From being down bodies, to a shortened bench, Penn State was able to manage the moment rather than let it overtake them.
It translated into expanded roles, new combinations, and additional responsibilities in key situations.
As the Nittany Lions prepare to host the Buckeyes, the emphasis isn’t on who is missing. It’s on how the group responds.
Gadowsky has been clear that the adjustments won’t change how the team plays.
“We don’t want to change our stripes,” he said. “Penn State hockey has always been built on being fast, aggressive, gritty. I don’t want to change the way we play.”
Personnel may shift. The approach does not.
That consistency has been most noticeable in how certain players have handled the stretch.
Last weekend, freshman Jackson Smith broke Penn State’s single-season goal record for a defenseman. The milestone adds to a season in which he has logged significant minutes and continued to produce despite the shifting combinations around him.
“It's a super cool accomplishment to have,” Smith said. “I can't thank my teammates enough. They've been the biggest part of my success.”
Gadowsky has repeatedly pointed to Smith’s demeanor as much as his talent.
“The kid is an absolute thoroughbred,” Gadowsky said. “He’s a game changer.”
Smith’s calm approach and growing offensive confidence have provided steadiness during a stretch that has required it. His development has unfolded alongside the team — measured, deliberate, and increasingly consistent.
“It’s nice to see that we can put up a fight with anybody in this league,” Smith said. “Even after the losses, we know we can compete with anybody.”
He is not alone.
Up front, junior forward Reese Laubach has continued to produce whether playing on the first line or the fourth line, on the powerplay or at even-strength, it doesn’t matter for Laubach.
After scoring three goals last weekend and earning Big Ten Third Star of the Week honors, Laubach’s impact has reflected the same controlled approach.
“He does whatever the team asks,” Gadowsky said. “We are thrilled with Reese Laubach.”
Freshman forward Luke Misa has stepped into an expanded role with all the injuries, now centering the top line between Aiden Fink and Gavin McKenna, and said his confidence has grown as the season has progressed.
“In the second half (of the season), I feel like I’ve really taken my game to another level,” Misa said. “I’ve been able to use my speed more and just be more confident.”
As roles have shifted, confidence has become increasingly valuable.
Ohio State arrives this weekend with three regular-season series remaining.
The schedule does not simplify from here, and the margin for error rarely widens at this time of year. What has shifted is Penn State’s response. The Nittany Lions have grown more comfortable operating within instability rather than waiting for it to settle.
With the postseason approaching, that composure may matter as much as any single result.