No. 6 Penn State Men's Hockey Survives Ohio State 5-4 In Overtime

Gavin McKenna was the overtime hero against the Buckeyes.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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No. 6 Penn State men's hockey (20-9-1, 12-7-1 Big Ten) defeated Ohio State (11-18-1, 7-13-0 Big Ten) Saturday night in Pegula. The game was back-and-forth and went all the way to overtime until Gavin McKenna continued his banner weekend, winning the game for the Nittany Lions.

Why it matters

This was an important Big Ten conference matchup between two ranked teams, with Penn State looking to maintain its position in the standings and Ohio State trying to pull off an upset. The overtime victory keeps Penn State in the hunt for a high seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.

The details

Penn State fell behind 4-1 in the second period but mounted a furious third-period comeback, scoring three unanswered goals to tie the game and force overtime. In the extra period, McKenna scored the game-winning goal to give the Nittany Lions the victory. The game featured several penalties and physical play, with both teams battling hard throughout.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • Penn State will next play Notre Dame on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 7:05 p.m.

The players

Gavin McKenna

The overtime hero for Penn State, scoring the game-winning goal.

Kevin Reidler

The starting goaltender for Penn State.

Nolan Collins

A Penn State defenseman who helped the team avoid trouble in their own zone.

Lev Katzin

A Penn State player who was involved in a collision and physical play throughout the game.

Broten Sabo

An Ohio State player who scored a goal to extend the Buckeyes' lead in the second period.

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What’s next

Penn State will hit the road against Notre Dame at 7:05 p.m. Friday, February 27, at Compton Family Ice Arena.

The takeaway

Penn State showed its resilience by mounting a dramatic comeback to force overtime and ultimately win the game against a tough Big Ten opponent. The Nittany Lions' ability to battle back from a three-goal deficit demonstrates the team's character and will serve them well as they push for a high seed in the conference tournament.