Overview
- Penn State opened the two-game set at Pegula Ice Arena with three power-play goals in a bruising contest.
- Goaltender Josh Fleming stopped 41 of 42 shots in one of his best outings of the season and is on the Mike Richter Award watch list.
- Matt DiMarsico recorded his second hat trick of the season, finishing it with an empty-netter, and Luke Misa added a power-play goal and two assists.
- The victory moved Penn State to third in the Big Ten, with a chance to reach second with a regulation win in Saturday’s 8 p.m. rematch on Big Ten Network.
- Coach Guy Gadowsky credited a December practice stretch for the team’s turnaround, as defenseman Cade Christenson returned to bolster the blue line while Braedon Ford is out for a significant period with a lower-body injury.