Penn State Hockey Aims to End Skid Against Ohio State

No. 5 Nittany Lions host struggling Buckeyes in key Big Ten series

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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No. 5 Penn State hockey returns home to face Ohio State in a key Big Ten series, looking to snap a 0-3-1 skid that has effectively ended their chances of winning the conference regular season title. The Nittany Lions swept the first series between these teams in Columbus earlier this season, but Ohio State has enough offensive firepower to keep the games close despite their struggles in goal.

Why it matters

This series is crucial for Penn State's NCAA Tournament hopes, as they currently have a 99.4% chance of making the field. However, their recent skid has put their chances of winning the Big Ten regular season title in jeopardy. A strong showing against the Buckeyes could help the Nittany Lions regain momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.

The details

Penn State will be without captain Dane Dowiak for the rest of the season due to injury, but they've named Aiden Fink as an alternate captain for the remainder of the year. Ohio State has been inconsistent this season, but they have enough offensive firepower to keep games close, led by Davis Burnside and Max Montes with 11 goals each. The Buckeyes' biggest weakness has been in goal, where they have a team save percentage of just .883, tied for the worst mark in the Big Ten.

  • The series takes place on Friday, February 20 and Saturday, February 21.
  • Puck drop is scheduled for 8:30pm on Friday and 8pm on Saturday.

The players

Dane Dowiak

Penn State's captain who will miss the remainder of the season due to injury.

Aiden Fink

Alternate captain for Penn State for the rest of the season.

Davis Burnside

Ohio State forward who leads the team with 11 goals.

Max Montes

Ohio State forward who also has 11 goals on the season.

Kristoffer Eberly

Ohio State goaltender with a .886 save percentage and 3.26 goals against average.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

Fans attending this weekend's games should be aware of parking and traffic changes due to THON.

The takeaway

This series is crucial for Penn State's NCAA Tournament hopes, as they look to regain momentum after a recent skid. While Ohio State has enough offensive talent to keep the games close, the Nittany Lions' home-ice advantage and the Buckeyes' struggles in goal could be the difference in this key Big Ten matchup.