UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Purple Eagles hockey team started off strong in their second game of the week at No. 14/15 Penn State, as Johnny Curran opened the scoring on the power play. The Nittany Lions held the Purple Eagles’ offense in check there, scoring five unanswered goals as Niagara fell 5-1 Friday night at the Pegula Ice Arena.
Curran picked up his second power-play goal of the season, set up by Noah Delmas and TJ Sarcona. Niagara’s power play went 1-for-5 on the evening. Joe O’Brien got the nod in goal and made 46 saves on 51 shots, stopping 21 of 22 in the second period along the way.
Game Summary
· Final Score: Penn State 5, Niagara 1
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Johnny Curran
· Niagara Assists: Noah Delmas, TJ Sarcona
· In Goal: Joe O’Brien (0-2-1) – 5 GA, 46 SV
· Power Plays: Niagara – 1-for-5 (5 SH); Penn State – 2-for-6 (22 SH)
· Location: Pegula Ice Arena – University Park, Pa.
· Attendance: 6,061
Game Recap
· Just under six minutes into the game, Niagara received a five-minute power play as Penn State’s James Robinson delivered an elbow to the head of Kris Spriggs. The Purple Eagles generated two shots on the chance as Penn State successfully killed the penalty.
· The Purple Eagles were able to open the scoring at the 16:56 mark of the first period on their next power play. Noah Delmas ripped a low shot from the blue line that went wide of the net. Johnny Curran scooped up the loose puck to the side of the Niagara goal, and his shot snuck in past Penn State goaltender Peyton Jones.
· Late in the first, Penn State equaled Niagara’s power-play effort. Joe O’Brien denied the Nittany Lions on a chance to the left of his goal, but the puck squirted out to the slot and Andrew Sturtz poked it in to tie the game at one goal apiece. O’Brien finished the first period with 11 saves.
· Penn State took control of possession in the second period, outshooting Niagara 22-3 in the middle 20 minutes. Niagara had to kill four penalties in the period, and successfully killed each of them.
· O’Brien made 21 saves in the second period, but Vince Pedrie gave Penn State the 2-1 lead at the 9:47 mark. Right after Niagara killed a penalty for too many men on the ice, the Nittany Lions retained offensive possession and Pedrie buried a loose puck over the glove of O’Brien.
· 32 seconds into the third period, Penn State made it a two-goal lead, as Sturtz netted his second goal of the night. Just under four minutes later on a power play, Zach Saar beat the Niagara defense, drove in against O’Brien, and scored glove-side to make it a 4-1 game.
· With 12:37 to play, Curran nearly had his second goal of the night as his shot trickled over the glove of Jones and along the goal line, but the puck rolled right along the line and out of the goal.
· Niagara had two consecutive power plays midway through the third period, but Penn State’s penalty kill shut the door on both occasions. Tanner Lomsnes had the best chance for Niagara, as a passing play around the outside of the defense eventually brought the puck to Lomsnes on top of the Penn State crease, but his low shot was turned away.
· With just under six minutes remaining, Penn State’s Denis Smirnov found David Goodwin off a 2-on-1 for the fifth and final Nittany Lions goal of the evening.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach David Burkholder: “It was the same situation as last game, where we trailed by one goal late in the second period and couldn’t make a push. I thought we came out with good spirit, grit, and a ton of effort, and that will help us in the long run.”
Inside the Numbers
· Curran’s power-play goal was his second of the season and third of his career.
· The Purple Eagles have now scored a goal on the man advantage in seven of nine games this season. The power-play unit currently sits at 8-for-52 (15.4 percent).
· Niagara set a season-high with 20 blocked shots on Friday night. Noah Delmas, Tyler Hayes, and TJ Sarcona led the way with three apiece.
· O’Brien’s 46 saves at Penn State were a new career-best. In his first start as a Purple Eagle, he made 39 saves to help Niagara to a 1-1 tie versus Penn State back on Nov. 6, 2015.
Up Next
· Niagara is off next week before returning to Atlantic Hockey play for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. The Purple Eagles’ next game is their lone home game of the month of November, a Tuesday matchup with the Mercyhurst Lakers. Opening faceoff between Niagara and Mercyhurst on Nov. 15 is set for 7:05 p.m.
