Preview: Penn State At Alaska Anchorage

Penn State (6-2-2) heads back to Alaska this weekend in what looks to be an annual trip up north for the Lions. The last time the Nittany Lions headed to the 49th state, they came away with unsatisfactory results in the Brice Alaska Goal Rush, tying Alaska Anchorage (6-3-1) 3-3 in the first game with a 4-3 loss to Alaska the next day.

After a stellar weekend sweep of Sacred Heart that saw 11 goals and 118 shots on net between the two games for Penn State, the Nittany Lions can get off to their best start in history with a win over the Seawolves late Friday evening.

Getting To Know UAA

The Seawolves are coming off a split weekend against Ferris State, with their latest outing a 5-0 shutout win over the Bulldogs. Penn State is the last series of their home stand, of which they have gone 2-2-0 coming into this weekend. The Nittany Lions were caught flat footed last time they played against Alaska Anchorage, drawing to a 3-3 tie after the Seawolves came back from a two goal deficit.

Sophomore forward Tad Kozun leads Alaska Anchorage in goals with six and senior forward Blake Tatchell is tied for 12th in the NCAA with 13 points in 10 games. Another young talent in sophomore Matt Anholt rounds out Kozun and Tatchell in the Seawolves's top three scorers with 10 points on the year so far.

Alaska-Anchorage boasts two sophomore goaltenders, and their starter for nine games out of ten, Olivier Mantha, will look to get the nod this weekend. Mantha's .914 save percentage and 2.40 goals against average has him just outside of the top 25 goaltenders in Division I. Backup Jared D'Amico has one game -- and win -- to his name this season, allowing just two goals against American International earlier in the year.

The Seawolves have a 3.20 goals per game average, with a power play that has gone 9 of 42 tries. Their penalty kill leaves something to be desired, with a 76.3 percent success rate with an average of 13.2 penalty minutes a night, according to USCHO.com.

Notes:

• The Nittany Lions got 36 votes in the latest USCHO poll. Alaska Anchorage had 4. A sweep, or even a split, could get the Nittany Lions into the top 20.
• Penn State is 1-0-1 away from home this season and will have to get used to playing without the Nittany Lion faithful cheering them on after a very home-centric start to the season.
• Sean Kohler, left winger from the St. Michael Buzzers of the OJHL, became Penn State's seventh an final recruit to sign a National Letter of Intent on Tuesday. The forward has 14 points in 22 games so far this season.
• Brian Tripp talks to head coach Guy Gadowsky on their last weekend sweep, Chase Berger's early season success, and the trip to Alaska. Eric Scheid also makes an appearance, talking about the power play and his new linemates this year.

Coach Gadowsky & Eric Scheid, who played at UAA in 2011-12, give their thoughts about the trip to Anchorage. https://t.co/lz0J31Ojlw #WeAre

— Penn State Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 17, 2015