Minnesota went to Penn State for a weekend series knowing they can still win the Big Ten Conference title. That goal remains alive, but barely after a 4-3 overtime loss at Pegula Arena.
Jimmy Snuggerud tied the game 3-3 midway through the third period, but Penn State’s Simon Mack scored with 1 minute, 51 seconds left in overtime to left the Nittany Lions to their 13th win in 14 games.
Mason Nevers and Connor Kurth also scored goals, and Liam Souliere, who spent his first four years of eligibility at Penn State, stopped 24 of 28 shots for the Gophers. Their point for the overtime loss tied them with Michigan State, a 5-2 winner at Notre Dame, atop the conference standings with 47 points and indentical 14-5-4 records.
According to Big Ten Conference rules, if both teams remain tied after Saturday’s games, the tiebreaker will fall to best record against their remaining conference opponents. Minnesota has won Big Ten regular-season or tournament titles in three of the past four years.
Minnesota took a quick lead on a goal by Nevers just 2:40 into the first period on assists by Becket Henderdickson and Leo Gruba.
The Gophers took that lead into the first intermission but the Nittany Lions had it erased by mid-period of the second on goals just 46 seconds apart by Matt DiMarsico and JJ Wiebusch to make it 2-1.
Minnesota tied the game on Connor Kurth’s power-play goal with 2:04 left in the second period. Erik Påhlsson and Brodie Ziemer had the assists. It stayed 2-2 until midway through the third.
Mittelstadt was penalized for tripping, and Penn State made hay on the man advantage, taking a 3-2 lead on Danny Dzhaniyev’s goal at 9:22. Snuggerud, however, quickly made it 3-3 with an even-strength goal at 11:44. Oliver Moore and Mittelstadt earned the assists.
The teams meet again to close the regular season with a 7 p.m. CT puck drop on Saturday.
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