UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – On Thursday night, the Niagara Purple Eagles hockey team and the No. 14/15 Penn State Nittany Lions for the first time since a 1-1 tie last season at Dwyer Arena. Niagara was outshot 56-25 in the contest, and Guillaume Therien made 51 saves in goal as the Purple Eagles fell 5-1 at the Pegula Ice Arena.
Kris Spriggs, the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month for October, scored his seventh point in eight games with a goal at Penn State. Derek Brown extended his point streak to four games with an assist on Spriggs’ goal, while Sean King contributed the setup assist.
Game Summary
· Final Score: Penn State 5, Niagara 1
· Niagara Goal Scorers: Kris Spriggs
· Niagara Assists: Derek Brown, Sean King
· In Goal: Guillaume Therien (0-2-1) – 5 GA, 51 SV
· Power Plays: Niagara – 0-for-4 (4 SH); Penn State – 0-for-4 (8 SH)
· Location: Pegula Ice Arena – University Park, Pa.
· Attendance: 5,389
Game Recap
· Penn State scored the first goal of the contest 2:35 into the first period. After a Niagara rush was negated at the Penn State end, the Nittany Lions came back on a 3-on-2 rush. From the right wing, Zach Saar found Ricky DeRosa in front of the net for a quick shot that found the back of the net.
· Andrew Sturtz made it 2-0 Penn State just over four minutes later, driving wide against the Niagara defense and burying a deke for the goal.
· Niagara found a pair of strong chances off of power plays in the first period. Johnny Curran had a shot gloved by Penn State’s Chris Funkey on a 2-on-1, and TJ Sarcona had a wide-open one-timer from the low slot, but he was turned away by a right pad save.
· With Sturtz looking to make it 3-0 Penn State late in the first period off the same move he scored on earlier in the period. Therien robbed Sturtz on the chance, clamping down on the puck with his glove. Therien finished the first period with 14 saves.
· The Purple Eagles drew to within one at the 5:42 mark of the second period. Derek Brown dug a puck out from behind the Penn State goal, and Sean King pulled it out front to the slot. King found Kris Spriggs all alone on the back door, and the freshman converted for his third goal of the season.
· Penn State outshot Niagara 28-8 in the second period. Therien made 22 straight saves to open the middle stanza, but Penn State got a pair of goals in the final 2:07 of the period, both coming from Denis Smirnov.
· Niagara’s forward line of Spriggs, Brown, and King generated two great chances early in the third period, but Funkey kept Penn State at a three-goal advantage.
· Therien made 13 saves in the third period, but a defensive breakdown at the 14:56 mark led to a Penn State goal by Dylan Richard, capping the scoring at 5-1.
Coach’s Corner
· Head coach David Burkholder: “We need to defend the top of our crease better. Every goal was a result of us losing a battle in the most important part of the rink. That was not a 5-1 game. We have the capacity to be a lot better.”
Inside the Numbers
· Kris Spriggs was named Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Month for October after tallying six points (2+4) in seven games. He now has seven points in eight games this season with his second-period goal.
· Derek Brown is now on a four-game point streak after assisting on Spriggs’ goal, totaling two goals and three assists in that span.
· Therien made 51 saves Thursday at Penn State, a career-high. The sophomore previously stopped 43 pucks at Union on Oct. 22, and made 41 saves in losses at St. Lawrence and Clarkson on Oct. 9 and 10, 2015, his first two collegiate starts.
· The last time a Niagara goaltender made 50 or more saves in a regulation game was Chris Noonan, who made 51 saves in a 2-2 tie at RIT on Feb. 25, 2012.
· Both teams went scoreless on four power-play opportunities. Niagara’s penalty kill is now 23-for-24 (95.8 percent) in four road games this season, and 24-for-28 (85.7 percent) in five non-conference games.
· The Purple Eagles were held without a power-play goal for just the second time in eight games this season. Penn State held an 8-4 lead in power-play shots in the game.
· Niagara held a 15-10 advantage in blocked shots. Vinny Muto led the way with four, followed by Kevin Patterson and Nick Farmer with three apiece.
Up Next
· The Purple Eagles and Nittany Lions return to Pegula Ice Arena for the second game of the week on Friday, November 4. Opening puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Fans can hear the action from Jeremy White live on 1340 AM WLVL.
Defend Dwyer Arena
· The next chance to catch your Purple Eagles at Dwyer Arena is on Tuesday, November 15 at 7:05 p.m., as Niagara returns to Atlantic Hockey play against the Mercyhurst Lakers.
