2022-23 Penn State Nittany Lions

[PSUfan]

That's a bad tie. Arghhhh.

Sigh. We were there and PSU should have won that game. It was very chippy as Zed noted and there were lots of hits that probably should have been called as penalties. On the plus side, really nice crowd of 1575 (3rd largest ever for PSU women's hockey) and the band was there!

[Reddington]

Nice on the band and the crowd.

[ZedLeppelin]

Just for something fun...Penn State women's hockey (Lexi Bedier), mic'd up: https://twitter.com/NCAAIceHockey/st...13899361480705

[Reddington]

The facilities look amazing. And in the other video if I'm the coach, I switch to 100 percent spikeball for warmups based on the body language exhibited.

[Reddington]

Bothun was solid, Zanon remains hot and Julie Gough is heating up. Team blocks were where it needs to be. PSU needs to close the deal on the road. Sisto is not going to sleep well tonight as he schemes to change the outcome tomorrow.

[ZedLeppelin]

I didn't watch either game, but Penn State swept Mercyhurst today by a score of 3-2 in OT. Tessa Janecke tied the game 2-2 with 23 seconds left in the third period, and then she scored again 22 seconds into overtime for the win.

Here's the OT winner: https://twitter.com/PennStateWHKY/st...31864688369665

[Reddington]

PSU nips Mercyhurst in ot 3-2. The drive for a 20 win season is still a thing. Bothun has the all time record for wins at PSU and Janecke is number three in the country for faceoffs. Today was Janecke's turn to shine.

[Lindsay]

PSU nips Mercyhurst in ot 3-2. The drive for a 20 win season is still a thing. Bothun has the all time record for wins at PSU and Janecke is number three in the country for faceoffs. Today was Janecke's turn to shine.

Credit to Penn State on the sweep. As Sisti said a while back they are a team with elite players at each position. I watched a bit of the first game, didn’t look at a box score but from a Laker fan perspective it looked like Penn State carried the five on five play, but Lakers were still in it.

I definitely believe the Lakers could win in a one game tourney situation (although did CHA change to best of 3? Would want to avoid Penn State for sure there). The Lakers took at least one really undisciplined penalty that created a 5 on 3 (both penalties taken at the same time) in game 1 and Penn State tied it up. Obviously can’t have that and be successful. Game 1 was a one goal game until late in the game when Penn State blew it open in the last 3 minutes. So if you are Laker fan, keep the faith.

Lakers power play, once they get set up, honestly they move the puck very well, Sweetapple and Javier are two that are really establishing themselves as key players on the team and Pedersen should be an all CHA d for sure. Both Penn State and Lakers clearly have set plays where they try to create offense off a d zone face off or rush and it was fun to watch.

Lakers have had at least two games now where they were winning in the last minute of the game only to give up a goal and then lose in OT, still time to clean that up but need to close some of these out, especially come tourney time.

Janecke - clutch finish to game 2 with the tying and OT goal but again, that supporting cast of many players all deserves credit too. Looking forward to Cuse Hurst next week and good luck to Penn State down the stretch.

[Reddington]

Mercyhurst is certainly formidable, they were 21 seconds from earning a split again. Sisti went with the goalie change and it almost worked. Janecke reminds me of Nuutinen who I see is now playing in the PWHL. It must be nice to go play another sport and then come back to hockey. Perrault is dangerous.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State takes on Lindenwood tonight and tomorrow at Pegula Ice Arena in their final home series of the regular season. Penn State is currently atop the CHA standings, 5 points ahead of Syracuse and 7 points ahead of Mercyhurst (11 ahead of Lindenwood and 14 ahead of RIT). In October at Lindenwood, Penn State swept the series 4-3 and 7-0, but you never know what you're going to get with Lindenwood besides physical play, so we'll see.

The CHA finally came to their senses and made the CHA postseason tournament a best-of-three semifinal, hosted by the two highest seeds, with the championship hosted at the highest remaining seed's arena, so everyone is playing for home ice. No more one-and-done nonsense in the semifinals.

Both of this weekend's games are on BTN+, and if you were thinking about watching it would only cost you $9.95 for the weekend (with a one month school pass subscription)...not bad for two hockey games. Tonight is Penn State's "free chicken basket for the first 50 students" game, so we'll see if that draws them in. It worked last year. Tomorrow is the Senior Day game.

Here are links for the weekend:

Livestream tonight (6:00 Eastern): https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/playerpage/1562117
Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statm...MTg0OS4wLjAuMA..

Livestream Saturday (2:00 Eastern): https://www.bigtenplus.com/en-int/playerpage/1562135
Live stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/statm...MTg3MS4wLjAuMA..

[PSUfan]

PSU women's hockey social media has been posting "senior farewell" announcements. In addition to the four graduate students who have no eligibility remaining (Correia, MacKay, Gangarosa, and Heminger), apparently 4th year senior Mallory Uhlein is graduating (possibly transferring elsewhere as a grad student for her fifth year.) Senior Julie Gough is, however, returning for her fifth year which is great news:

https://twitter.com/PennStateWHKY/st...69282390007808

[Reddington]

I noticed that Lindenwood split with Syracuse the last series. PSU needs to not roll around in the mud with Lindenwood.

[ZedLeppelin]

After one, it's Penn State up 2-0 on goals from Elleri Mackay and Olivia Wallin. Shots on goal are 16-7 for Penn State, and Lindenwood took the only penalty. Lindenwood's game plan seems to be to clog up their defensive zone, and just take offensive chances when they come. I'm hoping Penn State figures a way to open things up a little in the Lindenwood zone, but they look good so far anyway.

[ZedLeppelin]

After two, it's Penn State up 3-0 on a goal from Julie Gough. Shots on goal are 29-15, and Lindenwood took two penalties in that period. Penn State is getting more (or better) chances, and that period looked like it opened up a little more than the first.

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State takes game one by a score of 5-1, on third period goals from Eleri MacKay and Katelyn Roberts. Shots on goal for the game were 33-22 for Penn State. Lindenwood took one third period penalty and Penn State took three. No goals tonight from Kiara Zanon or Tessa Janecke, which is actually a good sign, getting five goals from other players. Game two tomorrow at 2:00 Eastern.

Edit: this 19th win is a season high in program history.