Penn State will always prefer high-scoring, up-tempo hockey. But for the Nittany Lions to make a run at a National Championship, they’re going to have to win while playing a style they aren’t as comfortable with.
Call it ugly hockey, defensive hockey, or whatever adjective you want. Finding success with low-scoring, find-a-way-to-win hockey is essential to a championship-caliber team.
Friday’s 3-1 win over Robert Morris showed Penn State that it can find success with that style, no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
“Obviously it was a goal of ours at the start of the season to improve defense, and there’s a number of parts of that.