Penn State Hockey Series Preview: Minnesota

After No. 5 Penn State lifted its spirits by beating Michigan 4-2 on Saturday, the Nittany Lions will travel to Minneapolis to take on a struggling Minnesota team. Penn State has not swept Minnesota on the road since 2019, but this is a good an opportunity as ever for the Lions to get it done. Tonight’s game will be televised nationally on FS1. This series marks the last two games for Penn State before the extended holiday break.

How to Watch

Who: Minnesota Golden GophersNPI Ranking (PSU): 41 (7)When: Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22Where: 3M Arena at Mariucci, Minneapolis, MNTimes: 8pm (both games)TV: FS1 (Friday), Big Ten Plus (Saturday)Radio: Penn State Sports Network

Projected Lineup

Matt DiMarsico-Charlie Cerrato-JJ WiebuschGavin McKenna-Dane Dowiak-Reese LaubachShea Van Olm-Luke Misa-Ben SchoenLev Katzin-Nic Chin-Degraves-Braedon Ford

Mac Gadowsky-Nolan CollinsJackson Smith-Jarod CrespoCarter Schade-Casey Aman

Josh FlemingKevin Reidler

Opponent Preview

Minnesota replaced more offensive production than anyone in the Big Ten, and it has shown on the ice this season. Bob Motzko’s squad is just 5-8-1 on the season, and although they have won three of their last four games, this will be the team’s first real test since being swept by Wisconsin on October 31 and November 1.

Brody Lamb (7 goals, 5 assists) and Brodie Ziemer (6 goals, 5 assists) have done most of the heavy lifting on offense. They are the only players on Minnesota’s roster with more than three goals through 14 games. As a team, the Gophers have scored just 2.6 goals per game, ranking 43rd in the NCAA. Minnesota ranks 55th in the NCAA in shots on goal per game (25.4) after ranking third last season. The Gophers have struggled to generate offensive zone pressure without the same depth of scoring talent they had a year ago.

Luke Mittelstadt (1 goal, 8 assists) leads a Minnesota blue line that is 28th in the NCAA in shots allowed per game (28.7). The defense is decent, but good teams have been able to exploit them, and Penn State’s attack should be up for the challenge this weekend.

Luca Di Pasquo (2.74 GAA, .904 save percentage) and Nathan Airey (2.99 GAA, .895 save percentage) have each started seven games in net this season, with comparable results. DiPasquo allowed six goals on 16 shots last Friday against LIU, so I would imagine Airey gets the start in net tonight, but goaltending can be volatile. Penn State should have the advantage in the crease, with Josh Fleming likely to start after his performance last Saturday.

Special teams have been an unmitigated disaster for Minnesota, ranking 44th on the power play (15.9%) and second-worst in the NCAA on the penalty kill (67.4%). Penn State’s power play has been bad recently, slipping down to 23rd in the NCAA (21.4%), but now is the time to figure out the man-advantage issues.

News & Notes

• Minnesota leads the all-time series 32-19-1.

• Penn State is 7-20 all-time at Mariucci.

• Penn State fans donated 2,173 teddy bears in last Saturday’s annual Teddy Bear Toss benefiting THON.

• Minnesota has a Wear White game planned for tonight. It’s too bad Simon Mack won’t be out there like the last time these teams met in a Wear White game.

Key Games This Weekend

• No. 7 Wisconsin at No. 1 Michigan State- Friday (8:30pm on Big Ten Plus) and Saturday (7pm on Big Ten Plus)

• Ohio State at No. 2 Michigan- Friday (7pm on Big Ten Plus) and Saturday (7pm on Big Ten Plus)

• No. 20 Union at No. 19 Cornell- Friday (7pm on ESPN+)

• No. 12 Northeastern vs. No. 18 Boston University- Friday at NU (7pm on ESPN+), Saturday at BU (7pm on ESPN+)

• No. 10 Maine at No. 15 Boston College- Friday (7pm on ESPN+) and Saturday (7pm on ESPN+)

Prediction

As vulnerable as the Gophers have looked, this will still not be an easy matchup for Penn State on the road. Minnesota has won 17 of the last 21 games in this series, including six in a row at Mariucci.

In its first eight games against currently ranked teams, Minnesota has recorded more than 22 shots on goal just twice and scored more than two goals once. Quality teams have been able to shut down the Gophers’ attack, and although the Penn State defense has been leaky, they seemed to find a rhythm in the second game against Michigan. The Nittany Lions have the advantage in net and on special teams.

Penn State is the better team, and even with Aiden Fink sidelined, I think the Lions have enough to take both games in regulation and position themselves well in the Big Ten entering the holiday break.

Penn State 4-2, 5-2