NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – The Purple Eagles ice hockey team put in a strong defensive effort against the Penn State Nittany Lions in another thrilling non-conference matchup. A tremendous performance from Niagara goaltender Joe O’Brien headlined a total team performance, but the team settled for a 1-1 tie Friday night at Dwyer Arena.
In his first collegiate start, O’Brien was a calming presence in net. The freshman from Brentwood, Missouri turned away 39 of 40 shots, marking the fifth time in seven games this season that a Niagara goaltender has posted 30 or more saves in a game. O’Brien also allowed just one goal against a Penn State team that entered the game second in the NCAA with 32 total goals on the season.
“At this stage, to be Joe’s first start against a Big-10 Penn State team, I thought he did really well,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “His game management and rebound control were sensational, and he looked unfazed, which was great.”
Derian Plouffe picked up his second goal of the season and Niagara’s second power-play goal of the season with under one minute left in the second period. Luke Edwards and Dan Kolenda added assists on Plouffe’s goal.
Niagara was heavily outshot in the first period, falling behind by a 14-5 total, but the Purple Eagles’ defense kept the shooting lanes in front of O’Brien clear to help their goaltender turn away each shot that period.
The second period was a much different story, as Niagara ramped up the attack and finished the period with 11 shots on net. It took nearly the entire period to get the game’s first goal, but Plouffe opened the scoring on the power play with 57 seconds to play in the period. Dan Kolenda had a golden opportunity, but his shot hit the side of the net, and Edwards picked up the loose puck. With a slick fake and a behind-the-back pass, Edwards found Plouffe on the back door, and the sophomore buried the goal for a 1-0 lead after two periods.
Penn State stayed true to their run-and-gun style all game, and they knotted the game on their 33rd shot of the evening, spoiling O’Brien’s shutout bid. Gathering the puck behind the net, Penn State’s Eric Scheid caught O’Brien off guard as he slid the puck back around the net to Dylan Richard, who put the shot in the wide-open net to tie the game at one with 3:01 left in regulation.
In the overtime period, O’Brien made six saves to keep Niagara in the game. The line of Edwards, Plouffe, and Kolenda generated a flurry of chances in the final minute, but it was not enough as Nittany Lions goaltender Matthew Skoff stood up to the attack.
Niagara wraps up its non-conference schedule next weekend with two road games. The team begins the trip on Nov. 13 at 7:05 p.m. against the 14th-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines, before continuing on Nov. 14 in a 7:00 p.m. exhibition match with the USA National Development team.
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