Penn State got off to an 0-8-0 start in Big Ten play and had just one win through its first 12 conference contests (1-9-2).

Despite being in nearly every game until the end, Guy Gadowsky’s team wasn’t getting results, and they’d dug themselves quite the hole. The Nittany Lions were out-scored 50-33 in the stretch and remained buried at the bottom of the standings. 

However, the 2024-25 campaign has taken a complete 180 in State College, and the Nittany Lions have been one of, if not the nation’s hottest team over the past six weeks. Their latest statement came this past weekend, as Penn State earned five points in East Lansing with a shootout win and a 3-2 win over No. 1 Michigan State.

Coincidence or not, it was a shootout win over Michigan State (Jan. 11) that sparked PSU’s torrid second-half stretch too, and the Nittany Lions haven’t slowed down.

Penn State is 9-1-2 over its past 12, which includes a 7-1-2 mark in Big Ten action. Gadowsky’s club is scoring in bunches, Arsenii Sergeev (CGY) has stepped up in the crease and his top players are producing every night, especially Aiden Fink (NSH), Reese Laubach (SJS) and Charlie Cerrato.

Laubach has five goals over his past six games and ranks second on the roster in goals (15) and points (28), while Fink has gotten most of the attention – deservedly so. The sophomore scored the game-winner last Saturday and has 23 goals and 45 points through 32 games.

#FinkForHobey 🏒

VOTE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/IZSz5dlCrw pic.twitter.com/gUGxAgGAXW

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 23, 2025

Fink is currently second in the country with those 23 goals – just four behind Boston College forward Ryan Leonard (WSH) – and his 45 points put him in a four-way tie for the NCAA lead. He’s especially been on fire in the second half, as the Calgary native has 15 goals over his past 16 games. He’s added seven assists in that stretch and has 13 multi-point games this season.

The Nittany Lions have quietly crept up to 15th in the Pairwise in the process and despite remaining on the bubble, it’s a team that continues finding ways to win.

They’ve held their opponents to two goals or less in five of their past six games and have lit the lamp 45 times over their past 12. PSU is currently averaging 3.4 goals per game, which is tied for ninth nationally, and its 109 goals are also tied for ninth.

While it’s been a spectacular stretch, an NCAA Tournament appearance is likely going to require a conference tournament crown. Penn State has made the NCAA Tournament three times – 2017, 2018 and 2023 – since being elevated to the Division I level for the 2012-13 season.

Check out the 📹 highlights as No. 18 Penn State knocked off No. 1 Michigan State, 3-2, on the road in East Lansing on Saturday night!!#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/BwBojMB8fR

— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) February 23, 2025

However, this coming weekend could have major Pairwise and standings implications.

The Nittany Lions are currently fifth in the Big Ten standings with 31 points, just one behind Michigan. Finishing fourth would give them home ice to open the playoffs. They are 9-5-2 at Pegula Ice Arena this season and unbeaten over its last seven (5-0-2) home games.

Penn State finishes the regular season with a home series against Minnesota while Michigan travels to Ohio State.

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