Mooney Scores in Overtime as Gophers Defeat Penn State
LJ Mooney's backhand goal 17 seconds into extra time secured a 4-3 win for the 18th-ranked Golden Gophers over the Nittany Lions at 3M Arena.
By Larissa Shah ·
LJ Mooney scored 17 seconds into overtime to give the 18th-ranked Golden Gophers a 4-3 victory over Penn State. The game concluded the Big Ten Conference series finale at 3M Arena in Mariucci on Saturday night. Tanner Ludtke recorded a career-high three points, while Christian Humphreys scored two goals in the home win.
Minnesota finished with an overall record of 3-3-2 and a Big Ten record of 1-0-1. The Nittany Lions dropped to 2-5-1 overall and 0-1-1 in conference play. The Gophers never led during regulation, extending a streak of two consecutive games that required an extra session.
Penn State took an early 1-0 lead just 81 seconds into the first period via a 2-on-1 rush. The margin nearly doubled a minute later when a shot rang off the left post during a Gophers penalty. Ludtke tied the game at 5:03 in the first period, scoring on a cross-ice feed from Tate Pritchard.
The Nittany Lions regained a 2-1 lead with 5:11 remaining in the first period after a tipped shot from the point. Humphreys pulled Minnesota even at 2-2 with 3:25 left in the opening frame. He received a pass from Ludtke after Javon Moore intercepted a pass and battled for possession.
Penn State moved back in front 3-2 at 3:25 in the second period on a long rebound. Humphreys equalized less than four minutes later, scoring his second goal of the night on a pass from Axel Löfgren. A five-minute major penalty against Penn State late in the second period carried over into the third, but the remaining time on the penalty was wiped off the board.
Jacob Kvasnicka raced past a defenseman on the power play, forcing the Nittany Lions netminder to turn aside his shot. Finn Loftus later had a shot from the high slot blocked, keeping the score tied at the end of regulation. The tight-checking battle led to a second straight overtime.
Mooney won the opening faceoff in the 3-on-3 extra session. Tanner Henricks controlled the puck and dropped a pass back to Mooney at his own blue line. Mooney weaved through visiting skaters and lifted a backhand past the goalie to seal the victory.
