It was expected that Penn State hockey would have a challenging season ahead of them after having such high expectations placed on them a season ago. Still, nobody likes to see the season start off the way this one has for the Nittany Lions. Penn State fell to 0-3 after the Nittany Lions dropped their home opener in the Pegula Ice Arena to No. 8 Quinnipiac on Friday evening, 6-3.
Things got off to a fast start between the two hockey powers, with Penn State and Quinnipiac combining for five goals in the first period, with visiting Quinnipiac having the one-goal advantage at the end of the period. Penn State struck first with Nick Fascia scoring at 4:36 in the first period. Mac Gadowsky added to the early lead midway through the period with a wrist shot. And for at least a brief moment, things seemed like they were going to be alright for the Penn State hockey club after a tough opening weekend last week up in Connecticut.
But the game flipped quickly as Quinnipiac capitalized on a power play to get on the board with a goal from Antonin Verrault a couple of minutes later. Two minutes later, the game was tied with a goal from Ethan Wyttenbach. A second power-play goal in the final minute of the wild first period. And Quinnipiac never looked back.
Penn State gave up two more goals without registering a goal in the second period, and the two teams each scored once in the third period, with Quinnipiac scoring six straight goals in the game before Penn State capped the scoring on the night in the third period.
It was a challenging night for Penn State netminder Josh Fleming, who did all he could in blocking 40 shots from a relentless Quinnipiac effort. This is just the second time in Penn State's Division 1 history of starting a season with a record of 0-3-0. Penn State is now 0-2-0 all-time against Quinnipiac.
Penn State will be back in action at home against Robert Morris on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The game will be the first half of a split home-and-home series with Robert Morris, with Penn State visiting Robert Morris later in the season (Feb. 7, 2027) for one game. Penn State will also be home again next weekend for a pair of games against Canisius.
Check out the full Penn State hockey schedule with updated start times and TV information for selected Big Ten conference games.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State hockey season-opening losing skid continues in home opener