Different Paths, Same Result: Men's Hockey Displayed Its Range in Historic Weekend SweepDifferent Paths, Same Result: Men's Hockey Displayed Its Range in Historic Weekend Sweep

Different Paths, Same Result: Men's Hockey Displayed Its Range in Historic Weekend Sweep

Written By: Ava Brown, Student Writer

Author John Hanna

Penn State’s weekend against Ohio State showed two very different versions of the same team.

On Friday, the Nittany Lions tied a program record with 11 goals in a single game, the most against a conference opponent. Less than 24 hours later, they erased a three-goal deficit to win in overtime.

The weekend showed that Penn State’s success isn’t defined by one style of play, but by its ability to adapt and find different ways to win.

Friday’s game turned into a record-setting night for the program and the conference. Penn State’s 11 goals marked the highest total ever scored by the Nittany Lions in a Big Ten game, while the team also went 5-for-5 on the power play, tying a single-game program record for power play goals. Freshman Gavin McKenna added to the history with eight points and seven assists, both single-game program records with his seven assists being a new conference standard and the eight points being the most in an NCAA Division I game in 39 years.

But even with the offensive explosion, the weekend quickly proved to be about more than scoring.

“This weekend had a little bit of everything,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “They just dug deep.”

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That theme showed up throughout the lineup. Injuries have shortened the bench and forced Penn State to adjust constantly, asking players to take on new roles and heavier minutes. On Friday, junior Aiden Fink stepped into faceoff duties on the power play and finished a perfect 6-for-6 at the dot while recording a career-high five points.

“It was something new with all the injuries,” Fink said. “I don’t think I’ve taken a draw in four years.”

McKenna, despite his record-setting night, pointed to the group around him rather than individual numbers.

McKenna said being at the rink with his teammates has become a getaway for him, with everything he’s dealing with at the moment.

“A game like this, where the team’s just clicking, it’s a lot of fun to be a part of,” McKenna said.

If Friday showcased Penn State’s offensive ceiling, Saturday revealed something different.

Already short-handed entering the night, the Nittany Lions lost another player during the game and finished with only nine forwards. Ohio State built a three-goal lead, forcing Penn State to rely less on skill and more on resilience.

Between periods, the message from the coaching staff changed.

“It wasn’t about strategy or systems,” Gadowsky said. “We just had to want it.”

Penn State responded with one of its grittiest stretches of the season, pushing back in the third period and killing key penalties late before completing a 5-4 overtime comeback.

Gadowsky said the late penalty kills were just as important as the comeback goals.

“At that point, it’s as big as scoring goals,” he said.

He later added that he was “really impressed with the grit of this group.”

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The contrast between the two wins stood out as much as the results themselves. One night required offensive execution and confidence. The next demanded discipline, energy management and trust from a shortened lineup.

On Tuesday, Gadowsky said the biggest takeaway from the weekend was how quickly the group adjusted.

The coaching staff emphasized improvements in puck management and shift management after Friday’s game, and the response showed up immediately the following night.

Gadowsky said the team’s focus shifted toward role identification as injuries shortened the bench. Players were asked to simplify their responsibilities and manage shifts carefully rather than trying to do too much.

“We’re not just going fire away, because we don’t have the bodies,” he said.

Players like freshmen Lev Katzin and Shea Van Olm were highlighted for embracing those responsibilities. Van Olm scored three goals over the weekend while avoiding penalties, a balance Gadowsky said reflects his growth.

“He is a goal scorer; he’s also a very tough power forward,” Gadowsky said. “If he can continue that, we are a much, much better team.”

The leadership group, Gadowsky added, has helped keep the team focused through injuries and constant lineup changes.

“A lot of teams could have said, ‘It’s just not our weekend,’” Gadowsky said. “But they didn’t. They stayed positive and fought really hard.”

That mentality defined the weekend.

Friday showed Penn State’s ability to overwhelm an opponent with skill and execution. Saturday showed the same group could grind out a win when conditions were far from ideal.

Together, the performances reinforced what Penn State has become throughout the season — a team capable of adjusting to whatever the game demands.