What you need to know as No. 6 Penn State hockey begins series with rival Ohio State

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What you need to know as No. 6 Penn State hockey begins series with rival Ohio State

Penn State hockey is still firmly in the NCAA Tournament picture as the 2025-26 season winds down, but a year that started with sky-high expectations has taken a few hits in recent weeks.

Notably, Penn State lost captain Dane Dowiak to a season-ending injury during last weekend’s Michigan series. Dowiak was not only the pulse of the team on the ice, but he also centered the Nittany Lions’ top line with Gavin McKenna and Aiden Fink alongside him.

Luke Misa has moved up to the top line in Dowiak’s place, but injuries to Dowiak, Charlie Cerrato, Keaton Peters and Breadon Ford have forced coach Guy Gadowsky to get creative with his lineup.

Defensemen Casey Aman and Nick Fascia were tasked with forward roles against Michigan, and they may be required to do so again this weekend against Ohio State and beyond.

The No. 6 Lions, meanwhile, will try to get back on track after losing three of their past four to Big Ten powers and national Nos. 1 and 2 Michigan State and Michigan. The fourth game ended in a tie for NCAA purposes, but the Wolverines won in a shootout for an extra Big Ten point.

Gadowsky’s squad has played tightly despite missing a few key names and racking up a few more injuries along the way. They’ve been outscored 21-14, and that’s coming off a previous streak of seven straight conference wins.

This weekend is the perfect opportunity to get back on track against struggling rival Ohio State, with series against Notre Dame and Wisconsin left to finish the year.

Penn State’s last win came on Jan. 24 at Wisconsin.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

WHO: No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions (18-9-1, 10-7-1) vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (11-16-1, 7-11-0)

ALL-TIME SERIES: 28-25-5 in favor of Ohio State; Penn State swept two games at Ohio State in October.

WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Pegula Ice Arena

HOW TO WATCH: Big Ten Network

ABOUT WISCONSIN: The Buckeyes split a home series with Wisconsin last weekend.

STATWORTHY: Penn State defenseman Jackson Smith, a 2025 first-round NHL Draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, has 10 goals this season. That marks a new Lions single-season record at the position.