Penn State tops Alaska-Anchorage, 2-1, in first of two-game set
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The No. 15-ranked Penn State men’s hockey program defeated Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves 2-1 Thursday night thanks to a stellar performance in goal from sophomore netminder Noah Grannan.
The Nittany Lions got scoring from Christian Sarlo, who scored the first goal on the power-play.
Danny Dzhaniyev added the second and final score for the Nittany Lions in the game. That is his second goal in two games.
The Nittany Lions move to 5-1 in the young season.
Grannan Shines in first start of the season
Grannan did not have long to prepare for his first start of the season. “I found out yesterday at practice,” Grannan said.
He followed up that statement by saying that he didn’t do anything differently to prepare for this game.
“I prepare to play even when Souly is starting… you never know what is going to happen,” Grannan said.
Grannan faced 26 shots from the Seawolves offense and tallied 25 saves. He earned the win in his first start of the season.
The defensive core stands strong
“This is absolutely the best defensive core we have ever had.” Said Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky.
Gadowsky doubled down on the statement that he made earlier this year at the Penn State men’s hockey media day.
The defensive core helped out their young goalie tonight, holding the Seawolves to just 26 shots, including just six in the first period, and seven in the crucial third period while holding just a one-goal lead.
They blocked 10 shots in the game, and Dylan Gratton got his name on the score sheet, tallying an assist on Sarlo’s power-play goal.
Jared Whale keeps the Seawolves in it
It is not often you earn the first star of the game when you are on the losing side, but Alaska-Anchorage goalie Jared Whale did just that.
This game could have been very different for the Seawolves if Whale was not in goal.
Whale faced 54 shots, totaling 52 saves in the game.
The Nittany Lions offense generated many chances throughout Thursday’s contest, Whale stood tall and held the Nittany Lions to their two goals.
“We’re just going to need to put pucks in the back of the net tomorrow,” Dzhaniyev said when asked how to be better in the second game of a two-game series.
With Whale in net for the Seawolves, that could be difficult.
What’s Next For Penn State
The Nittany Lions will try and go for the sweep of Alaska-Anchorage on Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.
