STATE COLLEGE — Penn State hockey showed off its star-studded lineup Saturday here in one of the most unique NCAA events of the year.
The No. 5 Nittany Lions men’s team battled Michigan State into overtime in the program’s first outdoor game in Beaver Stadium.
An announced crowd of 74,575 saw the Lions give a scintillating effort, finally losing to the nation’s No. 2 team with less than two minutes left in overtime. It was the second part of an exclusive ice hockey double header at the football stadium. (Penn State’s nationally-ranked women’s team beat Robert Morris here on Friday).
The Penn State men (18-8) still may be riding a similar second-half run that drove them to their first Frozen Four last spring − despite losing twice to the Spartans this weekend.
Penn State continues to be a national championship contender because of its stunning array of offensive firepower. It begins with potential No. 1 NHL Draft pick Gavin McKenna, one of a handful of former Canadian Hockey League stars on the roster. Others include defenseman Jackson Smith, the No. 14 pick in last year’s NHL Draft, and forward Luke Misa, a top Calgary Flames prospect.
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Michigan State’s Charlie Stramel ended it, completing a hat trick, by scoring with less than two minutes left in overtime.
It was one of the only clean shots for either team in the three-on-three OT session.
We’re headed to overtime.
Frozen fans get even more first-time hockey in Beaver Stadium?
We’re down to the final 37 seconds of regulation, still tied.
Another break as they “fix” ice spots.
Overtime hockey in Beaver Stadium?
And so it is, once again. One goal almost immediately answers another.
Moments after the Lions take their second lead of the day, the Spartans tie it back up.
Matt Basgall scores at the 12:22 mark. The Lions challenge the score but are denied.
We’re tied with 12 minutes to play.
Penn State re-takes the lead just over four minutes into the final period.
Freshman Shea Van Olm converts the breakaway in resplendent fashion, sending the 74,000-plus fans into prolonged roar.
The Lions own the lead now with 14 minutes to play …
What a second period for the Lions, the best and worst of it.
They opened up the period with a beautiful Aiden Fink goal just 13 seconds in − the first of three goals in the period.
They ramped up their effort and became more opportunistic.
But just when it looked like they would go into the break with a lead, they got hit with a penalty with less than a minute to play.
And the Spartans cashed in, like a No. 2 team does. They scored with two seconds left to tie it. They’re outshooting PSU, 31-26.
The Spartans tie it in the final two seconds of the second period.
Charlie Stramel scored his second goal of the day on the power play. He took a rebound off the boards and ripped it past Kevin Reidler, in close.
The score certainly took the air out of the Beaver Stadium crowd. The Lions looked like they were going to head to the second break with the lead after fighting back from two deficits.
The Nittany Lions have stormed all the way back.
Aiden Fink scored his second of the game to with 3:35 left in the second period to give the Lions their first lead, 3-2.
That’s another point for McKenna, too. (He’s got a goal and two assists already today).
Superstar Gavin McKenna delivered big-time.
The potential No. 1 NHL Draft pick wristed in a shot, on a beautiful look in front of the net, to tie things at 11:38 of the second period.
The Nittany Lions are still being outshot, 21-15, but are taking advantage of their opportunities now.
That’s the third goal in the first nine minutes of this second period.
Michigan State quiets the Beaver Stadium crowd moments after they come to life.
Charlie Stramel scores off a breakaway rebound to go back ahead, 2-1. The goal comes just three minutes after PSU’s Aiden Fink had tied it.
The Nittany Lions get on the board in dramatic fashion. Superb scorer Aiden Fink flips in a shot off a rush just 13 seconds into the second period.
The crowd of 60,000-plus erupts into “We Are, Penn State” cheers.”
Assists are credited to Gavin McKenna and Dane Dowiak.
Quite a scene in Beaver Stadium for the first-ever outdoor ice hockey weekend.
Sure, the snow adds a nice effect. Not sure about the 10 degree cold.
Here’s what a winter “white out” looks like from above:
The Nittany Lions were scrambling for big stretches of the opening period, even after falling behind 1-0 in the opening three minutes.
Michigan State outshot them 17-10 and missed several prime scoring opportunities.
Penn State sophomore goalie Kevin Reidler came up big near the end of the period, stopping a Spartan breakaway to keep it a one-goal game.
The No. 2 Spartans jump on Penn State quickly.
Senior left wing Daniel Russell scores barely 2:30 into the game. This comes after MSU hit the Lions with a 3-0 lead on Friday night.
Three-quarters of the Beaver Stadium lower level is full for its first-ever outdoor men’s hockey game.
The student section, as always, is impressive.
Penn State will go with sophomore Kevin Reidler in net today. He’s from Sweden. And he’s 6-foot-6.
He’s 10-3 this season, giving up 2.77 goals per game.
The Lions went with rookie Josh Fleming in net in Friday night’s 6-3 loss to the Spartans.
Fans are finally finding their way to their frozen seats, about 50 minutes before the puck drop.
Kind of cool to see a hockey rink in the middle of a football field, surrounded by snow.
But, wow, it’s cold. Just 15 degrees (feels like 4) at noon.
Penn State hopes to get back to winning today after having its seven-game win streak snapped by the No. 2 Spartans Friday night.
It’s Penn State men’s ice hockey vs. No. 2 Michigan State on the Big Ten Network. Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports Go app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the Big Ten Network and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Location: Beaver Stadium
Date: Saturday, Jan. 31
Time: 1 p.m. ET
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Frank Bodani covers Penn State sports for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.
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