3/2 RECAP: Penn State Takes Game 1 Against Minnesota

Fifty-five seconds near the end of the second period changed the course of Friday’s Big Ten quarterfinal opener.

With the game tied at two and 1:12 remaining, Penn State’s Denis Smirnov and Andrew Sturtz each scored before the second-period buzzer sounded to leave the Gophers in a two-goal hole entering the third period.

It was enough of a cushion for the Nittany Lions to hold on in a 5-3 win in the best-of-three series and put the Gophers on a three-game losing streak.

“When you get into a game like that I thought both teams competed hard,” head coach Don Lucia told reporters after the game. “We battled back to tie it 2-2 and the next turning point for me was the last minute of the second period.”

Special teams played a major role for both teams in the third consecutive game against one another at Pegula Arena. Freshman Casey Mittelstadt got his first multi-goal game for Minnesota (19-16-2) with both markers coming on the power play.

His first came 11:13 into the game when he gave the Gophers a lead after playing from behind the entirety of last weekend.

While the Gophers controlled possession and outshot Penn State 12-8 in the first period, Cole Hults tied it up on the home team’s next power play with his third goal of the season.

“It was the first time in college hockey history someone got called for an embellishment on a five minute major”

Penn State (17-13-15) went 2 of 6 on the power play Friday, taking advantage of a Darian Romanko five-minute major and game misconduct late in the first period. Without Romanko, one of Minnesota’s top penalty killers, on the ice, Nate Sucese put the Nittany Lions ahead in the final minute of the major. Left open, Sucese tapped in the puck past Mat Robson, who finished with 25 saves.

“We had some good momentum going at that time (before Romanko was ejected). They were able to score on it. Obviously losing him so early in the game affected things,” said Lucia.

Rem Pitlick created a turnover behind the net and found an open Scott Reedy open in front of it. Reedy didn’t hesitate, putting the puck past Peyton Jones for his fifth goal of the season.

Jones ended Friday with 32 saves.

The tie lasted 3:36 before Robson, starting his tenth consecutive game, could not stop Smirnov. Fifty-five seconds later Sturtz doubled the trouble with a deke and shot that roofed over the reach of Robson.

Minnesota ended up with a five-minute major power play of its own when James Robinson was called for contact to the head of Tyler Sheehy, however, it was limited to three minutes when Sheehy was simultaneously called for embellishment.

“It was the first time in college hockey history someone got called for an embellishment on a five minute major,” said Lucia.

Mittelstadt broke through with five minutes remaining in the game. The Gophers had another power play opportunity, but this time Penn State was able to hold on and get an empty net goal to stop Minnesota’s comeback.

Nearly a lock to make the NCAA Tournament, the Gophers now need to win two consecutive road games to keep hopes of a Big Ten title alive and avoid being off until the tournament starts in three weeks. Penn State, meanwhile, remains on the NCAA Tournament bubble. A series win would keep the Midwest Region hosts in the running.

Game 2 puck drop is at 6 p.m. The game airs on Fox Sports North.


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