Thursday, Nov. 3: Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes (Niagara) | Game Notes (Penn State)
Friday, Nov. 4: Live Video | Live Audio | Live Stats | Game Notes (Niagara) | Game Notes (Penn State)

For the second straight week, the Purple Eagles hockey team takes on a nationally-ranked opponent from the Big Ten. Niagara is on the road this week after hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes for two games at Dwyer Arena last weekend. Niagara and the No. 14/15 Penn State Nittany Lions play a pair of games at the Pegula Ice Arena on Thursday, Nov. 3 and Friday, Nov. 4.

In the first-ever matchup between Niagara and Penn State last season, the Purple Eagles were three minutes away from a 1-0 shutout win over the Nittany Lions, before a power-play goal brought the game to a 1-1 tie. Joe O'Brien made 39 saves in his first collegiate start in that game, while Derian Plouffe scored a power-play goal for Niagara.

Both games in this week's series at Penn State are slated for 7 p.m. faceoffs. Jeremy White has the play-by-play on 1340 AM WLVL for both games, and a free live stream is available Thursday and Friday through GoPSUSports.com. 

What to Watch For
• After hosting the No. 15/14 Ohio State Buckeyes at Dwyer Arena last weekend, the Purple Eagles hockey team stays in the Big Ten this week with a two-game swing at Penn State on tap.
• The Purple Eagles endured losses of 10-2 and 6-2 against the undefeated Buckeyes.
• Niagara, averaging 2.43 goals per game this season, ranks eighth in Atlantic Hockey in scoring offense. The Purple Eagles are one of two teams in the conference to score at least two goals in every game this season, with AIC being the other.
• The No. 14/15 Nittany Lions are coming off a two-game sweep of Atlantic Hockey opponent Canisius, earning 4-1 and 4-2 victories last weekend.
• At Dwyer Arena last season, Joe O'Brien made 39 saves for Niagara in a 1-1 tie in the first-ever game between Niagara and Penn State.

Spriggs Named Rookie of the Month
• On Nov. 2, Atlantic Hockey announced that Niagara's Kris Spriggs was awarded the Rookie of the Month honor for October.
• The last Niagara player to win a Rookie of the Month honor was Chris Moran, who won CHA Rookie of the Month in Dec. 2006.
• Spriggs is the first Niagara player since Kevin Ryan (Oct. 2012) to score six points in the opening month of the season. The last Niagara freshman to do so was Brian Dowd in Oct. 2008.
• Spriggs has been a force offensively for the Purple Eagles, leading the team with six points (2+4) in seven games, ranking first among Atlantic Hockey rookies. He also has 24 shots on goal, tops among conference rookies.
• Spriggs earned the first weekly award for a Purple Eagle this season, as he was named Travel Team USA Rookie of the Week on Oct. 11 by Atlantic Hockey.
• In the opening weekend of the 2016-17 season, Spriggs tied with Niagara's Noah Delmas for the conference rookie scoring lead. He led all freshmen with 10 shots on goal in the weekend and added a plus-2 rating.

The Kids Are Alright
•    The Purple Eagles' freshmen and sophomores have accounted for 32 points, ranking second in Atlantic Hockey. Those 32 points account for 68 percent of Niagara's scoring offense
•    Three Niagara freshmen have won Atlantic Hockey weekly awards in the first month of the season: Kris Spriggs (Rookie of the Week, Oct. 11), Tyler Hayes (Def. Player of the Week, Oct. 25), and Derek Brown (Rookie of the Week, Oct. 25).
•    Brown enters the Penn State series on a three-game point streak (2+2), the longest by a Purple Eagle this season.
•    Spriggs leads the Purple Eagles, and all Atlantic Hockey rookies, in scoring with six points (2+4).
•    Hayes is fourth among all NCAA freshmen, first among Atlantic Hockey rookies, and first on Niagara with 15 blocked shots this season.

Scouting the Nittany Lions (5-1-1, 0-0-0 Big Ten)
• The nationally-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions host the Purple Eagles this week for the second and third games in the all-time series between the two schools.
• Last season at Dwyer Arena, the Purple Eagles were three minutes away from shutting out Penn State the Nittany Lions drew even, ending the game in a 1-1 tie.
• Joe O'Brien made 39 saves in that game, his first career start, and he earned Rookie of the Week accolades for his performance.
• Penn State is currently 3-0 against Atlantic Hockey this season, earning a 7-0 win over Mercyhurst on Oct. 14 before securing wins of 4-1 and 4-2 over Canisius last weekend.
• The Nittany Lions are 1-1-0 against ranked opponents this season, splitting a two-game home stand against then-No. 16 St. Lawrence on Oct. 6 and 7.
• The Buckeyes boast the top overall record in the Big Ten.
• Freshman Denis Smirnov leads Penn State in scoring with nine points (3+6). Andrew Sturtz paces the team with five goals, while Trevor Hamilton and David Goodwin have a team-leading seven assists each.
• In goal, Peyton Jones is 5-0-1 with a 2.11 GAA and a .920 SV%.

Stay connected with the Purple Eagles through social media. Follow Niagara Athletics on Twitter @NUPurpleEagles and for hockey updates, follow @NiagaraUHockey. Check in with the Purple Eagles on Facebook.com/PurpleEagles and on Instagram @NUPurpleEagles.