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Penn State showed incredible improvement last week, out-shooting (35-30) and out-chancing #2 Boston College. As BC Coach Jerry York said after the game, "we didn't deserve to win." But, as has been PSU's luck this season, the Iggles did win, 3-2, and the Lions have now lost 6 in a row, and 12 of their last 13.
What's incredible, though, has been the Lions' fight. Dudes are playing far better hockey than they have all season, forecheck and backcheck, offensive zone and defensive zone. They're just way, way better, and that's amazing to me, because losing has a way of ruining, well, everything. Losing kills effort and energy - except for this 2013 squad. So congrats for that Coach Gadowsky, and way to go boys.
This Week The Streak Ends
at Ohio State (12-9-1-0 overall, 2-5-1-0 in Big Ten)
When: Tonight, 7pm (All Access only); and Saturday 2pmET ON ESPN News
WE'RE ON BASIC CABLE SATURDAY AFTERNOON! WE'RE GOING STREAKING! STREAKING THE QUAD.
So swing back here on Saturday for the open thread.
Last Meeting: Penn State 5, Ohio State 4, in the Three Rivers Classic consolation match. Casey Bailey racked up 4 points (2g, 2a).
The Lowdown
Ohio State is a solid squad. First-year head coach Steve Rohlik looks like he means business in Columbus, and has the Buckeys headed in the right direction, after an abysmal 2012/2013. He spent the prior 10 years at Minnesota-Duluth (which is just incredibly pleasant in winter), assisting a squad that made two Frozen Fours.
The Bucks are led by #18, junior Forward Ryan Dzingel. He's good. He's a bigger forward, though not Milley-huge, but he appears fast on the ice mostly because he's hockey smart. Dude's one of those annoying shitheads who seems to "know" where the puck is headed before you do. In any event, we'll have to keep him marked.
We'll have Mark Yanis back on the blue line for us to help in that regard. Yanis returns after serving his one game suspension for being an all-around bad ass. Nice to have you back, #5.
Penn State will notch its first Big Ten conference win in Columbus this weekend. At least its first, if not its first pair. Carve it into the ice.
