A little under two months ago, Penn State was 7-9, dead last in the Big Ten and still searching for its first conference win almost 10 weeks into the season. Climbing back into the national rankings seemed like a long shot — an NCAA Tournament berth seemed all but incomprehensible.
Fast forward 87 days later, the Nittany Lion bench cleared as gloves and sticks rained down on the ice at the PPL Center after downing UConn 3-2 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament Regional Finals.
The team that was written off by the hockey world became the hottest team in college hockey, earned its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, breezed past No.