Reeling from four consecutive Western Collegiate Hockey Association losses, UAA this weekend gets a respite from conference play.
But don't consider it a break.
Next up for the Seawolves is a road series at No. 12-ranked Penn State on Friday and Saturday.
And as much as the Seawolves (1-7-0) have struggled early this season, the Nittany Lions (7-1-1) have prospered. Penn State has won five straight games and owns the second-longest current unbeaten streak in Division I at seven games (6-0-1).
Penn State of the Big Ten, coached by former UAF bench boss Guy Gadowsky, presents UAA an opportunity to emerge from its current funk by generating road success against a ranked team. That's a tall task, considering the Nittany Lions' dynamic numbers on both sides of the puck.
UAA has scored just eight goals in eight games and its 1.00 goal-per-game average ranks last among the 60 teams in Division I. Its power play has cashed in just 4.9 percent of the time (2 of 41) and that puts the Seawolves 59th in the country. Penn State counters with the fourth-best team defense nationally (2.00) and the second-best penalty-killing crew (93.2 percent).
Penn State's offense has proved lethal. It averages 4.22 goals per game, fourth-best nationally, and averages a nation-leading 45.78 shots per game. The Nittany Lions have cranked off 51 or more shots in three games, and that includes a 65-shot barrage in a 4-1 win over Canisius, the only team UAA has beaten.
The Nittany Lions have been bolstered by a pair of fabulous freshmen. Denis Smirnov has furnished 5-10—15 totals in nine games, has at least one point in every game and has generated four multiple-point games. And goaltender Peyton Jones has gone 6-0-1 with a 1.95 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.
UAA is coming off a pair of WCHA home-ice losses to Alabama-Huntsville – 5-2 and 3-2 in overtime – but it did score two goals in a game for the first times this season.
UAA (1-7-0) at No. 12 Penn State (7-1-1)
Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. AST