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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Penn State
Players Mentioned
Princeton Faces Penn State in Philly College Hockey Faceoff
January 27, 2017 | Men's Ice Hockey
| Games 21: Princeton vs. No. 4 Penn State | |
| Game Times | Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. l Wells Fargo Center l Tickets |
| Game Coverage | Live Video l Live Stats |
| Series Info | Penn State leads Princeton 1-0 |
| Princeton | Roster l Schedule l Stats l |
| Penn State | Roster l Schedule l Stats l @PennStateMHKY l 16-3-2 l Game Notes |
EYE ON THE TIGERS
Princeton is back in action after two weeks, pausing for final exams which conclude on game day. The Tigers look to get back on track after going 0-3-1 since returning from the holidays. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Princeton went on a 7-2 run - after staring the season 0-6-1. Sophomore Max Véronneau leads the offense with 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists. Linemate Ryan Kuffner has scored the more goals, 10, and adds 10 assists for 20 points. Freshman Jackson Cressey has chipped in 18 points, while junior David Hallisey has 16. Sophomores Alex Riche and Josh Teves add 12 points apiece, while Eric Robinson has 11 points with the second-most goals on the team with eight. Senior Colton Phinney has started in all but one game in goal and has an .897 save percentage and a 3.52 goals against average.
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
Penn State dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 in the nation after going 0-1-1 against Ohio State this past weekend. With a 16-3-2 overall record, Ohio State and St. Lawrence are the only two schools to have beaten Penn State this season. The program is in its fourth season competing as a varsity squad under Guy Gadowsky, who was Princeton's head coach from 2004-11. The Nittany Lions have the best scoring offense in then nation, averaging 4.43 goals per game. The team allows 2.24 gpg, ranking 10th in the country. The penalty kill is 77 for 88 (87.5%), the fifth best nationally, while the power play ranks 12th after scoring on 23 of 108 opportunities (21.3%). Freshman Denis Smirnov leads the squad in scoring with 29 points on 11 goals and 18 assists. Sophomore Chase Berger - the brother of former Tiger Jack Berger '13 is second on the team with 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists. Senior David Goodwin has also reached the 20-point plateau, while two defenders Vince Pedrie and Trevor Hamilton trail by just one point. Freshman Peyton Jones has started in goal in 19 of 21 games. He has a .908 save percentage and a 2.30 goals against average.
THE PRINCETON/PENN STATE SERIES
Princeton and Penn State have played each other just one time, last year, when the Tigers traveled to the Pegula Ice Center. Penn State scored two goals in each the first and second periods before Princeton came back to make it a one-goal game with three straight goals to start the third. The Tigers pulled netminder Colton Phinney in favor of the extra attacker, but allowed two empty net goals in the final 58 seconds for a 6-3 final. Phinney finished the game with 39 saves, as Penn State outshot Princeton 45-25. Tommy Olczyk was the star for the Nittany Lions as he had a hat trick.