A season filled with high expectations has gone according to plan for No. 6 Penn State, which enters its final regular-season series primed for another crack at a national championship.
After a shootout win followed by an overtime loss against Notre Dame last weekend, the 20-10-2 Nittany Lions return to Pegula Ice Arena for a two-game set against No. 11 Wisconsin. The series starts at 7 p.m. Thursday and continues at 7 p.m. Friday, with both games streamed on Big Ten Plus.
When these sides met in late January, Penn State outscored the Badgers 10-3 en route to a series sweep. But the real fireworks occurred postgame when Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings refused to shake Guy Gadowsky’s hand after the series finale ended with a brawl that resulted in 11 players receiving game misconducts.
Gadowsky said the hostility was “just hockey.” And while Penn State owns a 99% chance of making the NCAA Tournament, according to Playoffstatus.com, its coach refuses to take the Badgers lightly.
“We are not in yet. It’s not mathematically locked yet. So I think that’s important to know,” Gadowsky said. “This is a great dress rehearsal for what playoff hockey is going to be like … Wisconsin needs to win to get in. We need to win to mathematically lock it up. I think this is going to be a great opportunity as a dress rehearsal for the playoffs.”
Head men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky answers questions during a press conference in Pegula Ice Arena on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 in University Park, Pa.
Megan Miller
Scouting Wisconsin
Wisconsin was rolling early en route to a 15-3-2 record through its first 20 games. But it’s been a bumpy ride since.
The Badgers are just 4-8 over their last 12 contests, including a six-game losing streak that dropped them outside the USCHO’s top 10. And despite that recent slide, Penn State defenseman Jarod Crespo said the team refuses to look past what it expects to be another competitive series.
“This weekend is a precursor to playoffs,” Crespo said. “(Wisconsin) is fighting for a spot. We’re still fighting for a spot, as much as it doesn’t look like it. This is going to be playoff hockey this weekend, so to kind of keep that edge, just focus on this weekend and play like it’s a playoff game both nights.”
Gavin Morrissey leads Wisconsin with 29 points and 23 assists — seven more helpers than his next closest teammate. Morrissey didn’t play in the January series between these teams, so this will be his first look at this year’s Nittany Lions.
Christian Fitzgerald, who in January recorded two points against Penn State, and Quinn Finley are Wisconsin’s top goal scorers. Fitzgerald’s 15 goals pace the Badgers and are tied for the eighth-most in the Big Ten.
Daniel Hauser has started 23 of Wisconsin’s 32 games in net. The freshman goaltender sports a 16-6-2 record, which ranks third in the Big Ten, and a 2.48 goals-against average that ranks fourth.
The S-Zone displays Penn State’s colors of blue and white during the men’s hockey game against Michigan State at Pegula Ice Arena on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Spartans shutout the Nittany Lions 5-0.
Tyler Mantz
White Out Energy
Friday’s contest will serve as Penn State’s annual White Out game, which encourages fans to wear white and create an electric atmosphere rarely seen across college hockey.
The Nittany Lions knocked off then-No. 2 Minnesota in last year’s “Wear White” game. They’ll look to replicate that success amid a sea of white in their regular-season finale — one that could hold major seeding implications ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s the White Out. It’s one of the weekends we look forward to,” senior defenseman Carter Schade said. “In all three years I’ve had here, it’s the craziest atmosphere I’ve ever seen.”
MORE HOCKEY COVERAGE
With No. 6 Penn State’s regular season coming to a close this weekend, Guy Gadowsky met with…
If you’re interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.