Members of Ohio State’s hockey team celebrates after senior forward Freddie Gerard’s goal during the first period of Ohio State’s hockey game vs. Michigan on Jan. 11. Ohio State lost 2-1. Credit: Nick Hudak | For The Lantern

No. 4 Ohio State (15-5-4, 8-3-3-2 Big Ten) won both away games against No. 13 Penn State (13-9-2, 5-8-1-1 Big Ten) this weekend, giving the Buckeyes three wins in a row leaving the weekend.

Game 1

The Buckeyes dominated their first match, winning 4-1 in an aggressive game against Penn State.  

Midway through the first period, Ohio State freshman forward Gustaf Westlund, playing his first game since recovering from an upper body injury, scored his third goal of the season 10 seconds into a power play, putting the Buckeyes up 1-0.  

With about a minute left in the period, Penn State scored on its own power play, bringing the score to 1-1. This would be Penn State’s only goal before the Buckeyes scored three unanswered to finish the game.

Shortly into the second period, junior forward Tanner Laczynski, assisted by senior forward Mason Jobst and junior defenseman Gordi Myer, scored to give Ohio State a 2-1 lead.  

Minutes later, Jobst once again assisted, this time helping Westlund score his second goal of the night. Then, with only 2 minutes left in the third period, Laczynski passed to junior forward Ronnie Hein.

Ohio State shot 33 times while Penn State managed a season-low 22 shots. The Nittany Lions are No. 1 in the NCAA with 944 shots on goal this season. Ohio State is No. 2 with 856.

Game 2

Penn State showed more of its aggression in the second game, but Ohio State came out on top, winning 6-4.

Ohio State took control of the game during the second period, scoring on four power plays in the middle 20 minutes to take a 5-3 lead it wouldn’t give up for the rest of the game.

The first period was tame in comparison, with sophomore Grant Gabriele of Ohio State getting his first career collegiate goal with an assist from Hein.  Penn State answered with a goal 10 minutes later, tying the teams up 1-1 by the end of the period.

The second period opened up with the Nittany Lions advancing their lead to 2-1 within the first two minutes.  

Following a trip against Penn State, Ohio State began its run of goals on the power play. Senior forward Dakota Joshua tied the game up 2-2, which was followed by junior defenseman Matt Miller putting the Buckeyes up 3-2.  

Penn State received a major penalty for boarding after a hit to the back of Laczynski, giving Ohio State five more minutes with the man advantage.  Despite being shorthanded, Penn State scored its third goal of the game, once again tying the teams up 3-3.

Ohio State took advantage of the major penalty, with Joshua scoring his second goal that period. Then, with only a few minutes left in the second period, Westlund put a puck into the Lions’ net, advancing Ohio State to a 5-3 lead.

Laczynski left the game following the hit by junior forward Blake Gober, and did not return.

Midway through the third period, Jobst scored his 14th goal of the season, giving the Buckeyes their sixth score of the game. Penn State scored the last goal of the game, bringing the final to 6-4.

Both teams were very evenly matched on the shot totals, with the Buckeyes shooting 39 times and the Lions shooting 38 times.

The Buckeyes held Penn State to a combined five goals in the home series. The Nittany Lions averaged a NCAA-leading 4.86 goals per game heading into the matchups.

Ohio State enters a bye week before facing off against No. 12 Notre Dame on Feb. 1.