No. 17 Buckeyes Fall to No. 4 Nittany Lions, 3-2

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 17 Ohio State men’s hockey team lost its Big Ten opener to No. 4 Penn State, 3-2, Thursday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes led 2-0 after the first period and 2-1 after the second, but two Nittany Lion goals in the third lifted the visitors to the win.Ohio State is now 4-3 on the year, with Penn State 8-1.
 
The Short Story
The Buckeyes scored twice in the first five minutes of the game, with a Broten Sabo tally and Riley Thompson power play goal. The Nittany Lions got on the board with a power play goal late in the second. Shots were 15-7 in favor of the Buckeyes in the first and Penn State had the edge in the second, 16-6. Two goals in a 1:37 span midway through the third gave Penn State the win. Penn State led in shots, 14-9, in the final period and had the edge in the game, 37-30.
 
Each team scored once on the power play – Ohio State was 1-for-7 and Penn State was 1-for-8.
 
Up Next
The teams will close the series at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Columbus. Fans are encouraged to wear black. Script Ohio on Ice will be performed during the first intermission. There will be pregame trick or treating on the concourse and a black THE towel giveaway for the first 2,000 fans. It is also Alumni Weekend for the men’s hockey program and the group will be recognized pregame.
 
Season tickets, Power Play mini plans, group tickets and single game tickets are all available now. Ticket Information Parking is free for all home games.

How it Happened

• Just 1:19 into the game a Broten Sabo blast put the Buckeyes on the board, set up by Bryce Ingles and Ryan Gordon.
• On a power play at 4:12, Riley Thompson tipped a Davis Burnside pass to put the Buckeyes up 2-0. Jake Karabela had the second helper on the tally.
• Penn State appeared to score at 4:22, but an Ohio State challenge for goaltender interference was successful and the goal was taken off the board.
• The Buckeyes had the edge in shots, 15-7, in the first.
• Penn State had the shot advantage, 16-6, in the second and scored the only goal at 14:13 when JJ Wiebusch converted on the power play.
• Just over five minutes into the second, a Buckeye shorthanded attempt first called no goal was reversed after review. Penn State then challenged for goaltender interference and the goal was overturned to keep the Buckeye lead at 2-0.
• In the third, Dane Dowiak tied the game at 10:14 and at 11:51 Luke Misa put the Nittany Lions ahead.
• Ohio State was outshot, 14-9, in the third, and for the game, 37-30.
• Buckeye goalie Kristoffer Eberly made 34 saves in 59:16 and Penn State’s Kevin Reidler had 28 stops in all 60 minutes.
• The Buckeyes blocked 14 shot attempts, led by Gordon and Sabo with two each.
• The Buckeyes were 7-for-8 on the penalty kill, allowing nine shots on net combined, and the power play was 1-for-7.

Buckeye This and That

• Thompson leads the Buckeyes with four goals and is tied with Burnside (2g, 3a) and Gordon (5a) for second with five points each. Gordon has a team-best five assists.
• Ingles’ assist was his first collegiate point and Sabo’s was his first goal at Ohio State.
• Eberly has a 1.87 goals-against average and .930 save percentage this season, starting all seven games.
• Ohio State is 27-for-30 (.900) on the penalty kill this year.
• The Buckeyes have allowed three or fewer goals in each of their first seven games.

 

Coach Rohlik spoke after tonight’s loss to the Nittany Lions. pic.twitter.com/ewGuKNI5kf

— Ohio State Men’s Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 31, 2025