UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State University men’s ice hockey team dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime to the University of Ottawa in the third installment of the International Game this afternoon at Pegula Ice Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ottawa got on the board early using a 2-on-1 off-man rush as John Deacon fed the puck to Cody Drover just inside the left circle and he was able to slap it past the outstretched pads of sophomore goaltender Peyton Jones for the 1-0 edge just 1:03 into the contest.
- Penn State potted the equalizer using great puck movement during a second period power-play as senior Erik Autio (Espoo, Finland) dished to sophomore Denis Smirnov (Moscow, Russia) at the left circle and Smirnov slipped a beautiful pass through the slot to freshman Cole Hults (Stoughton, Wis.) and the rookie fired into the empty side of the net for the 1-1 score at 9:52 of the middle frame.
- The Gee-Gees responded with a man-advantage goal of their own as Drover ripped home his second of the game at 13:44 giving the visitors the 2-1 advantage heading into the second intermission.
- Ottawa took an early two-goal lead in the third period as Marco Azzano was the beneficiary of a defensive zone turnover and odd-man situation to fire past the blocker of junior goaltender Chris Funkey (Orland Park, Ill.) for the 3-1 advantage at 2:34.
- PSU responded as they took advantage of a pair of penalties by the Gee-Gees to score back-to-back power-play goals in a 1:35 span to pull even. Smirnov fired in the first goal during the 5-on-3 portion of the man-advantage as he skated into the left slot and fired far post picking the top right corner for the 3-2 score at 12:47 of the final period.
- Freshman Brandon Biro (Sherwood Park, Alb.) then registered the equalizer as classmate Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.) found him on the left side of the crease for a tap in goal at 14:22 for the 3-3 tie sending the game into overtime.
- Ottawa wasted little time in the extra session as Quinn O’Brien broke into the zone and used a backhand flick beating Funkey to the blocker side for the 4-3 final just 1:23 into the period.
GOALTENDING
- Jones played the first two periods and stopped nine shots before giving way to Funkey who collected 8 saves over the final two frames.
- Anthony Brodeur, the son of longtime NHL star Martin Brodeur, started in net for Ottawa and stopped 22-of-23 shots, including all 18 he faced in the first period. Brodeur was relieved by Graham Hunt who collected 28 saves over the final 31:31 to pick up the victory.
NOTES
- Penn State held the commanding 53-21 edge in shots while going 3-for-7 with the man-advantage. Ottawa was 1-for-2 on the power-play.
- Smirnov, Autio and Hults each registered multi-point efforts with Smirnov and Hults collecting one goal and one assist each and Autio having a pair of assists.
- Penn State falls to 2-1 all-time in the International Game, but have outscored opponents 16-6.
- The crowd of 4,482 is the largest in the three-year history of the International Game.
NEXT UP
The tenth-ranked Nittany Lions will travel to Clarkson University to open up the 2017-18 regular season with a 7 p.m. tilt against the Golden Knights next Friday, October 6.