2020-21 Penn State Nittany Lions

[ZedLeppelin]

Here's a six-minute video Q&A with head coach Jeff Kampersal:

https://twitter.com/PennStateWHKY/st...43942233485321

[ZedLeppelin]

Freshman forward Kiara Zanon was recognized as one of five NCAA standouts in the first month of 2020-21 play:

https://www.theicegarden.com/2020/12...h-of-ncaa-play

[Reddington]

Bothun is doing fine. She is good enough to give the current team a chance. 41+ shots will wear down a goalie in back to back games. Burke wore down last year at times.

[ZedLeppelin]

Good News: The scoring is up. Bad News: The scoring is up for other teams. Good News: The team can win a game 4-3 this year. Bad News: The team will struggle to win games 1-0.

I agree, and I think all of this points at a defense that needs a little tightening. They've shown that they can get down a goal or two and come back from that, but they have to be a lot better at keeping the opponent away from the Penn State net while they catch up. It's great to see this team is so offense-oriented with some talented new players, but not if it's going to be at the expense of the solid defense they've always had. Syracuse figured out Josie Bothun and capitalized on what they saw in her game, and Penn State let them work it out.

The PP is atrocious. The 5-3 non conversion highlights just how bad the PP is. The Penalties seem to be at a level that is manageable. That is a positive.

Ugh...that 5-on-3 was disappointing. I really thought a goal was coming quickly from that. Like you said, the powerplay overall is pretty dismal - time and a lot more practice will hopefully work that out.

Considering any hockey was a question this year, the real win may be just getting in games in this trying environment.

Absolutely - any hockey is good hockey this season, and I'm glad they're getting a chance to play at least a little.

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(All good points, but I'm going to be all Christmas-spirity and give the gift of keeping my motormouth in check, and just focus on a couple of your points)

3. The back end needs to be more physical in front of their own net. Syracuse had too many second chances in tight.

That's probably my biggest takeaway, at least from this four game Syracuse series: the increased offensive effort is great to see, but keep teams outside and let Bothun see the puck when shots come her way.

4. Josie needs to have better rebound control. She is going to learn that unlike high school, teams are going to try to execute a specific game plan. It was obvious yesterday shoot low and crash the net. On the third goal she stopped two shots before the third one went in. There was no boxing out.

There was a Syracuse goal yesterday that Bothun should have gotten the assist on, the way she handed a rebound (and a wide open net) to the Syracuse player. Still, she's a freshman goalie who just got four games in a row against a very quick Syracuse team, and came away with some pretty good numbers.

Impressions at the holiday break are positive, for sure. This is a whole new look for a Penn State women's hockey team. They've never moved this quickly and been so offense-oriented. They stuff the neutral zone, too, and the forecheck is relentless. I was a little nervous with so many freshmen coming in and so many seniors disappearing late from the roster, but this freshman class is a good one, and their speed and skill have made the rest of the players step their games up, too.

[zambonidriver]

Good News: The scoring is up.
Bad News: The scoring is up for other teams.
Good News: The team can win a game 4-3 this year.
Bad News: The team will struggle to win games 1-0.
The PP is atrocious. The 5-3 non conversion highlights just how bad the PP is.
The Penalties seem to be at a level that is manageable. That is a positive.
Penn State has its first series win ever against one of the big three:. Syracuse, Mercyhurst and Robert Morris. That's a big step for the program.
With the lack of games it is really hard to judge how good Syracuse is and the same for Penn State. Considering any hockey was a question this year, the real win may be just getting in games in this trying environment.

A couple of points from this weekend.
1. Team defense as whole was a whole lot looser this weekend then the first two. Heminger and Adolphsson were not noticable like they were the first four games.
2. Freshmen are legit. I think that as they learn that you just can't shoot on goalies at this level you need to make moves. Zanon's shorthanded break away is a great example.
3. The back end needs to be more physical in front of their own net. Syracuse had too many second chances in tight.
4. Josie needs to have better rebound control. She is going to learn that unlike high school teams are going to try to execute a specific game plan. It was obvious yesterday shoot low and crash the net. On the third goal she stopped two shots before the third one went in. There was no boxing out.
5. Young teams need more practice. Two days of practice is not enough time with young teams to fully embed a game plan you could tell this weekend everyone was cheating toward offense, (To many odd man rushes.)
6. Time to go home recharge and get away from campus these kids have been under an unbelievable amount of stress some family time will be good.
7. A great start to the year considering the roster has been totally overhauled.
8. More Positives than negatives. Very bright future. (which could becoming to fruition sooner than expected.

[Reddington]

Good News: The scoring is up.
Bad News: The scoring is up for other teams.
Good News: The team can win a game 4-3 this year.
Bad News: The team will struggle to win games 1-0.
The PP is atrocious. The 5-3 non conversion highlights just how bad the PP is.
The Penalties seem to be at a level that is manageable. That is a positive.
Penn State has its first series win ever against one of the big three:. Syracuse, Mercyhurst and Robert Morris. That's a big step for the program.
With the lack of games it is really hard to judge how good Syracuse is and the same for Penn State. Considering any hockey was a question this year, the real win may be just getting in games in this trying environment.

[ZedLeppelin]

Syracuse takes the win 4-2 with a final empty netter to ice the game. Syracuse led the shots on goal 46-36, and just seemed quicker getting the puck onto the Penn State net. Penn State did have a lot of chances of their own, too...but on defense they just didn't do a very good job of boxing Syracuse out and instead let them crowd the net too much. Kiara Zanon had two shorthanded breakaways, but couldn't get one past the Syracuse goalie, who had a great game. All in all, the entire four-game series was a good one, and Penn State is bringing a whole new (and better) look to this program.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State and Syracuse are tied 2-2 after two periods. Syracuse had the better chances in that period, but both teams are playing full speed. Syracuse has four penalties to Penn State's one. Syracuse leads the shots on goal 31-23.

[ZedLeppelin]

The video feed is working now - took them a while.

Penn State and Syracuse are tied 1-1 after the first period. No real surprises here...it's like watching every other game against Syracuse, full of energy both ways. Should be another good one.

[phillydog]

Thanks for sharing the link. Received various error messages when attempting to stream the game. Went directly to cuse.com also in an attempt to watch. Odd that it worked just fine for Friday's game.

[ZedLeppelin]

Game two starts in 45 minutes (3:00 Eastern) - here's a link to the live stream: https://cuse.com/Watch/?Live=5328&sport=26&type=Live

Starting lineup: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpDLVqoW...name=4096x4096

[Reddington]

Eastwood is right up there with the guy from Boston Univ. She was prepared and knew all the girls and Kampersal's coaching record at PSU and Princeton and it was obvious that she liked providing color commentary and I'm convinced she had read this column by some of her comments. PSU should sign her up for home games.

[Lindsay]

I knew you'd like Eastwood calling the game Pretty cool that she was doing it from home in Toronto - way to go, Syracuse techie people.

Very cool!

[ZedLeppelin]

Eastwood on the play by play. She is a natural. Not the game I expected and what a roller coaster. First goal to get you back in is always the toughest Gough tonight, Byrnes the game before that. Nice goal by Zanon.

I knew you'd like Eastwood calling the game Pretty cool that she was doing it from home in Toronto - way to go, Syracuse techie people.

[Reddington]

Eastwood on the play by play. She is a natural. Not the game I expected and what a roller coaster. First goal to get you back in is always the toughest Gough tonight, Byrnes the game before that. Nice goal by Zanon.