An excellent report doesn’t all the time imply a super workforce.
Coming off a couple of sequence sweeps in back-to-back weekends to get started the season had Penn State’s avid gamers fired up heading into any other nonconference showdown with St. Thomas.
Similar to closing yr, the Nittany Lions began out-of-conference play on a tear, score as excessive as No. 16 within the nation all through the 2021-22 marketing campaign.
After a high-scoring victory against then-No. 6 North Dakota, the blue and white went on to lose 5 of its subsequent six matchups to open Big Ten play.
The Nittany Lions in finding themselves in any other state of affairs the place a difficult stretch of convention matchups follows an excellent get started to the season.
Guy Gadowsky stated he is aware of there are imperfections along with his 2022-23 unit, and added he desires to repair them now fairly than all through convention play. Going into its two-game sequence with the Tommies at Pegula Ice Arena, Gadowsky stated he desires to use this chance to fine tune his workforce on either side of the puck.
When evaluating the former season’s get started to this yr’s, the Nittany Lion trainer stated it feels very other however understands that there’s nonetheless growth to be made.
“We’ve definitely made big improvements from one weekend to the next,” Gadowsky stated. “But I’d much rather just not take penalties.”
Among many stuff the blue and white trainer stated he desires to see his workforce reinforce upon in Thursday’s combat with St. Thomas is the penalty kill.
Through 4 video games, Penn State totaled 14 consequences for 31 mins, permitting 5 energy play objectives to get started the yr.
Forward Ben Schoen (12) races to be first to the puck all through the Penn State men’s hockey recreation against Canisius on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa. Penn State received 7-5.
Against the Golden Griffins, the blue and white allowed 4 energy play objectives whilst it allowed only one in its two-game sequence with the Lakers.
Although it sort of feels the Nittany Lions progressed their penalty kill in only one weekend, Gadowsky nonetheless stated he sees “isolated” problems retaining again their complete possible.
Another facet Gadowsky stated his workforce can reinforce on is its transition play.
The Eleventh-year trainer said Penn State’s precedence is proscribing its fighters odd-man rushes — in particular on line adjustments — however hasn’t lived up to its expectancies up to now.
During the Mercyhurst sequence, the blue and white discovered itself on one too many odd-man possibilities, permitting a short-handed purpose in its 6-3 victory closing Thursday.
Senior trade captain Tyler Gratton stated he likes the place issues are trending, however the “sloppy” impartial zone play is a space the blue and white will focal point on sooner than its first convention matchup with Wisconsin on Oct. 28.
Before the Nittany Lions will even focal point at the Bullies of the Big Ten, they’ll combat a St. Thomas workforce that has only one yr of Division I enjoy beneath its belt.
Although Gadowsky has but to do a majority of his preparation for the Tommies, he stated this workforce brings much more to the ice than he recalls.
“They’re much more dangerous this year with the personnel than they were last year,” Gadowsky stated. He added St. Thomas has performed with much more construction and added some proficient skaters.
Gadowsky hopes to use this chance as a time to get more youthful avid gamers ice time whilst additionally molding the core of his staff ahead of convention play.
Although he would “love” to reach each priorities at a excessive stage of play, Penn State’s trainer understands the significance of successful to this workforce.
“The biggest thing for us moving forward is just making sure you know your role,” sophomore ahead Ben Schoen stated. (*18*)
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