Ohio State wins ‘crossroads’ game at Penn State
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Jake Trotter, ESPN Senior Writer
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Walking off the field after the 20-13 victory over Penn State, Ryan Day spotted offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. With a huge smile, the Ohio State coach jumped on Kelly, then shook his shoulders in celebration. The two hugged again before Kelly slapped Day on the rear.
“We were at a crossroads. … This was a big game for us, for a lot of reasons,” said Day, who noted the Buckeyes’ winning locker room was the “most animated” it had been in a long time.
“All of our goals are in front of us now.”
On the heels of last month’s 32-31 loss at top-ranked Oregon, the fourth-ranked Buckeyes (7-1, 4-1) kept their Big Ten championship — and playoff bye — hopes alive with a slugfest win over the third-ranked Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1).
By winning out, Ohio State can ensure it advances to the Big Ten title game, setting up a potential rematch against the unbeaten Ducks.
“There’s no great accomplishments that happen without adversity. That’s life,” Day said. “When you get back up against the wall, you have to respond.
“These guys wanted it.”
After getting torched at Oregon, Ohio State’s defense responded emphatically at Beaver Stadium.
The Buckeyes kept Penn State’s offense out of the end zone. Twice, the Nittany Lions had first-and-goal situations at the Ohio State 3-yard line. But both times, Penn State came up empty.
With 11 seconds to go in the first half, Ohio State cornerback Davison Igbinosun ripped the ball away from Penn State wide receiver Harrison Wallace III as they were tumbling out of bounds. After a review, officials awarded Igbinosun the interception.
The Nittany Lions still had an opportunity to tie the score in the final five minutes. But the Buckeyes stuffed running back Kaytron Allen on three consecutive plays, then forced quarterback Drew Allar into an incompletion from the 1-yard line, forcing the turnover on downs.
Penn State never touched the ball again, as Ohio State salted away the clock on the ground.
“I think that speaks volumes to what our program’s about — toughness, fight and love,” said defensive end J.T. Tuimoloau, who had a sack and two tackles for loss. “This just showed who we are, who [this defense] can be and what we’re capable of.
“There’s a lot more left in the tank. This is just a preview now of what’s to come.”
Will Howard was just as animated as his head coach and offensive coordinator in his biggest victory as Ohio State’s quarterback.
On Oct. 12 at Oregon, Howard inexplicably slid into the turf on the final play instead of throwing the ball away or into the end zone, sealing the victory for the Ducks.
The senior transfer from Kansas State grew up in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, a rabid Penn State fan. This week, he pointed out that the Nittany Lions didn’t offer him a scholarship, noting that they didn’t think he “was good enough.”
Back in his home state again, Howard didn’t play his cleanest game. He threw a pick-six on Ohio State’s third play and later fumbled at the goal line, robbing the Buckeyes of a touchdown while giving Penn State a touchback.
But Howard overcame those mistakes by throwing two touchdown passes. He also completed 16 of 24 passes and rushed for 24 yards, including a 7-yard dash on third down that put the game away.
After that slide, Howard twice signaled first down with his arm, then kept pumping his fist as he walked back to the huddle before taking a victory knee.
“Man, we willed that game,” said Howard, praising an Ohio State offensive line down its top two left tackles (Josh Simmons and Zen Michalski). The O-line controlled the line of scrimmage for running backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, who combined for 149 yards on 24 carries.
“There’s no feeling like this,” Howard said.
Day admitted that the Buckeyes were going to “enjoy” this victory, especially after they weathered all the criticism from the Oregon defeat, as well as the narrow victory at home over Nebraska last weekend. But Day added that Ohio State’s eighth straight win over Penn State could prove to be a springboard for the Buckeyes down the stretch.
“This is going to build us moving forward,” he said. “For our guys to get this win is going to go a long way.”
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Greg Wyshynski
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel was suspended one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday night for what it labeled “an extremely forceful body check to an unsuspecting opponent” that injured Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.
Hagel will miss Saturday’s Game 3 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers lead the series 2-0.
Around midway through the third period of Thursday’s Game 2, Tampa Bay was on the power play while trailing 1-0. Barkov pressured defenseman Ryan McDonagh deep in the Lightning zone. With the puck clearly past Barkov, Hagel lined him up for a huge hit that sent the Panthers captain to the ice and thumping off the end boards.
A penalty was whistled, and the officials conferred before calling a “five-minute penalty.” After review, Hagel was given a 5-minute major for interference. Barkov left the game with 10:09 remaining in regulation and did not return to the Panthers’ 2-0 win.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game that he didn’t expect Hagel to receive a major penalty for the hit.
“Refs make the call. I was a little surprised it was a five, but it was,” he said.
The NHL ruled that Hagel’s hit made “some head contact” on Barkov.
“It’s important to note that Barkov is never in possession of the puck on this play and is therefore not eligible to be checked in any manner,” the league said.
In the Friday hearing, held remotely, Hagel argued that he approached the play anticipating that Barkov would play the puck. But the Department of Player Safety said the onus was on Hagel to ensure that Barkov was eligible to be checked. It also determined that the hit had “sufficient force” for supplemental discipline.
It’s Hagel’s first suspension in 375 regular-season and 36 playoff games. He was fined for boarding Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen in May 2022.
The Panthers held an optional skate Friday. Coach Paul Maurice said Barkov “hasn’t been ruled out yet” but “hasn’t been cleared” for Game 3.
“He’s an irreplicable player,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said of Barkov. “One of the best centermen in the league. He’s super important to our team.”
The Lightning lose Hagel while they struggle to score in the series; they scored two goals in Game 1 and were shut out in Game 2. Tampa Bay was the highest-scoring team in the regular season (3.56), with Hagel contributing 35 goals and 55 assists in 82 games.
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Greg Wyshynski
The Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens lost their starting goalies because of injuries in Game 3 of their first-round series Friday night.
Canadiens starter Sam Montembeault was replaced by rookie Jakub Dobes, who made his playoff debut, in the second period. Capitals starter Logan Thompson left late in the third period after a collision with teammate Dylan Strome.
The Canadiens won 6-3 to cut their series deficit to 2-1.
Montembeault left the crease with 8:21 remaining in the second period and the score tied 2-2. Replays showed him reaching for the back of his left leg after making a save on Capitals defenseman Alex Alexeyev. Montembeault had stopped 11 of 13 shots. For the series, he stopped 58 of 63 shots (.921 save percentage) with a 2.49 goals-against average.
Dobes, 23, was 7-4-3 in 16 games for the Canadiens in the regular season with a .909 save percentage. Dobes had a win over the Capitals on Jan. 10, stopping 15 shots in a 3-2 overtime win.
Thompson was helped from the ice by a trainer and teammates after Strome collided with him with 6:37 left in regulation right after Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky made it a 5-3 Montreal lead. Thompson attempted to skate off on his own but couldn’t put weight down on his left leg.
Backup goalie Charlie Lindgren replaced Thompson, who had been outstanding for the Capitals in the first two games of the series, winning both with a .951 save percentage and a 1.47 goals-against average. He made 30 saves on 35 shots in Game 3.
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