2020-21 Penn State Nittany Lions

[ZedLeppelin]

This win is huge for Penn State because I don't think anyone else in the CHA is going to take points away from Robert Morris the rest of this season, except maybe Mercyhurst. Those two have gone 1-1-1 so far, with one more game to play against each other. Penn State has to take tomorrow's points from Robert Morris and set things up for themselves.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State takes the 2-1 win against Robert Morris to go to 10-1-2 on the season, and go three points ahead of Robert Morris for first place in the CHA. Both goalies had outstanding games. The shots on goal were 30-28 for Penn State, and there were only three penalties the whole game. Penn State has now beaten Robert Morris three times in a row this season, but this was a very even game. Tomorrow should be more of the same - game time is 2:00 (Eastern).

[ZedLeppelin]

After two periods it's tied up 1-1, on a Penn State goal from Olivia Wallin. Both teams took a penalty, but only Robert Morris had anything resembling a powerplay. Penn State's powerplay was embarrassing, just non-existent. Robert Morris owned the first half of the period, but Penn State took it back for the second half. Robert Morris's goalie made some huge saves in that period, and so did Josie Bothun. This one is tight, but Penn State is waking up. Shots on goal are 24-22 for Penn State.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State and Robert Morris are scoreless after the first period. Penn State took the only penalty. Penn State leads the shots on goal 13-8. Robert Morris came to play, and started the game in control, but Penn State slowly started finding their groove. Both teams have had good chances, but both goalies have been on point so far.

[ZedLeppelin]

It's still four weeks out until the CHA tournament, but this weekend against Robert Morris is huge for Penn State. They are currently one point ahead of Robert Morris for the CHA lead, and this is the final series between the #1 and #2 teams, and the final chance to take points from them. Going by the schedules that each CHA team has posted, the regular season isn't going to end with all teams having played an equal number of conference games, so I don't know how that will affect official final standings (I guess every stat about this season will end with an asterisk and a "yeah, but..."). After this weekend, Penn State plays four in a row against RIT, and then finishes the season in a two-game series at Mercyhurst.

Hats off to the CHA for getting each team as close as they are to the usual 20-game conference schedule. Unless the CHA manages to squeeze some odd mid-week games in here or there, this is how each team will finish for conference game totals: Penn State and Robert Morris - 20, RIT - 19, Lindenwood - 18, Mercyhurst - 17, and Syracuse - 16. That's pretty good in a season that almost didn't even happen, and was still dealing with Covid throughout.

As usual, since it's not the final 10 seconds of the regular season in the CHA, the standings aren't even close to being settled. Penn State, Mercyhurst, Syracuse, and Lindenwood all have 8 CHA games left to play, Robert Morris has 7, and RIT has 9. That's how the schedules look right now, but there could be a short notice mid-week game snuck in there for somebody, too.

Tonight's game vs Robert Morris is at 6:00 (Eastern).

BTN+ video link (subscription required): https://www.btnplus.com/game/robert-...2052021?tid=19

Live stats link: http://pennstate.sidearmsports.com/s...hockey/summary

[D2D]

Penn State caught up with former player and captain Laura Bowman: https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/2/...ra-bowman.aspx

Great interview with a very impressive young lady.

[ZedLeppelin]

The Penn State preview of this weekend's huge series against Robert Morris at Pegula Ice Arena:

https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/2/...ha-series.aspx

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State caught up with former player and captain Laura Bowman: https://gopsusports.com/news/2021/2/...ra-bowman.aspx

[Reddington]

Was RMU looking past Mercyhurst to get to Penn State? RMU and Mercyhurst are no gimmes and will test the true metal of PSU. The CHA has not been that physical this year although the second Lindenwood game may have been a wake up call on more to come. Familiarity breeds contempt.

[ZedLeppelin]

I just looked at the rankings, yes I think PSU was poised to move up, but I am surprised at some of the rankings and RMU now only has 6 votes when they had 10 votes the week before. So who knows. Some surprises elsewhere too.

Penn State dropped a spot to #9 in the USA Today poll, and that was kind of surprising - dropping a spot because of a tie? Oh, well...trying to figure out how voters choose rankings, especially after the top three or four, is probably not worth the trouble, but I still think Penn State is at least #8.

Mercyhusrst beats RMU 4-2 https://rmucolonials.com/sports/wome.../boxscore/8604

Ouch...Robert Morris had a chance to take over first place in the CHA. Well, Penn State thanks you, Mercyhurst. Looking at the penalty summary of that game looks like a typical CHA game: body checking, elbowing, roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct. It makes me wonder if that's why a CHA team can't get farther in the national tournament. That style of pounding an opponent might win you a CHA title, but the national title goes to the speedy skill teams.

[zambonidriver]

Mercyhusrst beats RMU 4-2 https://rmucolonials.com/sports/wome.../boxscore/8604

[Reddington]

I just looked at the rankings, yes I think PSU was poised to move up, but I am surprised at some of the rankings and RMU now only has 6 votes when they had 10 votes the week before. So who knows. Some surprises elsewhere too.

[ZedLeppelin]

Kiara Zanon and Josie Bothun took home weekly conference awards: https://chawomenshockey.com/news/202...d-winners.aspx

[ZedLeppelin]

The remainder of Penn State's schedule looks like this:

Feb. 5-6 (Friday/Saturday) vs Robert Morris (at Penn State)
Feb. 9-10 (Tuesday/Wednesday) vs RIT (at Penn State)
Feb. 19-20 (Friday/Saturday) vs RIT (at RIT)
Feb. 26-27 (Friday/Saturday) vs Mercyhurst (at Mercyhurst)

And, for some reason, the CHA schedule has Penn State set for a March 3 (Wednesday) single game against an opponent to be determined, the day before the CHA tournament begins - I have no idea what that's all about, unless Penn State ends the season one game short of everyone else, and this is to determine a regular season champion with everyone having played an equal amount of conference games.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State remains at #8 in this week's USCHO poll: https://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-womens-poll/

That's no real surprise. I wonder if a sweep at Lindenwood would have moved them up to #7.