Tale of the Tape
Stat CategoryOhio StatePenn StateGoals813Shots3726Shots on Goal2220Possessions3536Groundballs168Saves714Save%35%64%Shooting Pct22%50%Faceoffs1211Faceoff %52.2%47.8%Turnovers1210Turnover%34%28%
Season Comparison
Penn State SeasonSeason-To-Datevs. Ohio StateOff. Efficiency37.3%36.1%Shooting Pct43%50%Faceoff %58.1%47.8%Turnover%34%28%T.O.P.53%43%Possession Length36.243.3Time to First Shot36.742.7Shots/Possession0.880.72
But Penn State’s offense is different than most. In this one, the shots/possession number was lower because they shot so much better than normal (50% vs 43%). Penn State only took 26 shots in this game, but they made such a high percentage that there were very few chances for a back-up or a rebound. And of course, in this situation, that is a very good thing.
Season Comparison
Ohio State SeasonSeason-To-Datevs. Penn StateOff. Efficiency29.4%22.9%Shooting Pct36%22%Faceoff %60.4%52.2%Turnover%34%34%T.O.P.53%57%Possession Length43.358.2Time to First Shot38.537.5Shots/Possession0.861.06
Over last two games, we’ve gotten a sense that Ohio State is not, perhaps, a top-5 team this year. But it would be somewhat unfair to completely write them off after 2 games, in the same way it wouldn’t have been wise to crown them after their 7-0 start.
Still, the numbers can help us to diagnose what Ohio State might need to do to get back to their winning ways. And it’s clearly an offensive issue. The defense did hold PSU to just 13 goals after all.
If I had to point to one area, it would be shooting. I noted above that Kneese had a great outing, stopping 14 Ohio State shots in total. This is a different game, especially coming out of halftime, if a few more of Ohio State’s shots had found net. If they’d shot their season average of 36%, they’d have been right in this one.
Quarter Breakdown
Penn State: Quarter BreakdownQ1Q2Q3Q4Goals3433Shots3977Possessions71298Offensive Efficiency42.9%33.3%33.3%37.5%Shooting %100%44%43%43%Turnover Rate28.6%33.3%11.1%37.5%Shots-on-Goal %100%67%100%57%Time-of-Possession27%51%38%58%Faceoff Win Rate14%83%43%67%Time/Possession36.3s38.9s38.2s61.6sTime to First Shot31.7s36.7s45.1s55.8sShots per Possession0.430.750.780.88Defensive Efficiency33.3%11.1%27.3%16.7%Save Pct62.5%66.7%57.1%75.0%
The thing that made this so interesting to me was that their offensive efficiency didn’t suffer; they were still at 38%. That tends to be the trade-off with respect to clock-milking. Teams that want to slow the game and wind clock have a hard time getting into an effective offensive set at the end. Not Penn State.
To me, this is one of the single biggest reasons that their offense has been so effective. They seem to have the ability to kill clock AND still get good chances. Scary thought for any team that should find themselves looking up at a Nittany Lions lead.
Quarter Breakdown
Ohio State: Quarter BreakdownQ1Q2Q3Q4Goals3131Shots127108Possessions99116Offensive Efficiency33.3%11.1%27.3%16.7%Shooting %25%14%30%12%Turnover Rate22.2%33.3%27.3%66.7%Shots-on-Goal %67%43%70%50%Time-of-Possession73%49%62%42%Faceoff Win Rate86%17%57%33%Time/Possession74.9s50.1s50.1s60.0sTime to First Shot46.9s42.7s26.9s31.8sShots per Possession1.330.780.911.33Defensive Efficiency42.9%33.3%33.3%37.5%Save Pct0.0%33.3%57.1%25.0%
The big thing that stands out there was the FO win rate. They ended up with a 4-possession advantage in the 1st and 3rd quarters compared to a 5-possession disadvantage the rest of the way. Simply put, getting extra possessions allowed Ohio State to negate some of the built-in advantages that the Penn State squad brings to all their games.
If they were to meet again, look for Ohio State to find ways to generate extra possessions, especially if they aren’t able to do it via the face-off game.
Let’s talk about Grant Ament
Stats: Grant AmentQ1Q2Q3Q4TotalGoals00022Assists13206Shots01034Shots on Goal00022Shooting PctN/A0%N/A67%50%Groundballs00000Turnovers00000EGA0.501.711.002.265.48
Best way to hang with Penn State: keep the ball out of their offense’s stick.
Let’s talk about Cole Willard
Stats: Cole WillardQ1Q2Q3Q4TotalGoals10113Assists00000Shots10113Shots on Goal10113Shooting Pct100%N/A100%100%100%Groundballs00000Turnovers00000EGA1.020.001.021.023.07
This year, Willard hasn’t ranked in the top 5 of Penn State’s offensive stable, in terms of total EGA. Maybe he needs a bigger role?
Tale of the Tape
Ohio StatePenn StateGoals813Shots3726Shots on Goal2220Possessions3536Groundballs168Saves714Save%35%64%Shooting Pct22%50%Faceoffs1211Faceoff %52.2%47.8%Turnovers1210Turnover%34%28%
Season Comparison
Season-To-Datevs. Ohio StateOff. Efficiency37.3%36.1%Shooting Pct43%50%Faceoff %58.1%47.8%Turnover%34%28%T.O.P.53%43%Possession Length36.243.3Time to First Shot36.742.7Shots/Possession0.880.72
But Penn State’s offense is different than most. In this one, the shots/possession number was lower because they shot so much better than normal (50% vs 43%). Penn State only took 26 shots in this game, but they made such a high percentage that there were very few chances for a back-up or a rebound. And of course, in this situation, that is a very good thing.
Season Comparison
Season-To-Datevs. Penn StateOff. Efficiency29.4%22.9%Shooting Pct36%22%Faceoff %60.4%52.2%Turnover%34%34%T.O.P.53%57%Possession Length43.358.2Time to First Shot38.537.5Shots/Possession0.861.06
Over last two games, we’ve gotten a sense that Ohio State is not, perhaps, a top-5 team this year. But it would be somewhat unfair to completely write them off after 2 games, in the same way it wouldn’t have been wise to crown them after their 7-0 start.
Still, the numbers can help us to diagnose what Ohio State might need to do to get back to their winning ways. And it’s clearly an offensive issue. The defense did hold PSU to just 13 goals after all.
If I had to point to one area, it would be shooting. I noted above that Kneese had a great outing, stopping 14 Ohio State shots in total. This is a different game, especially coming out of halftime, if a few more of Ohio State’s shots had found net. If they’d shot their season average of 36%, they’d have been right in this one.
Quarter Breakdown
Penn State: Quarter BreakdownQ1Q2Q3Q4Goals3433Shots3977Possessions71298Offensive Efficiency42.9%33.3%33.3%37.5%Shooting %100%44%43%43%Turnover Rate28.6%33.3%11.1%37.5%Shots-on-Goal %100%67%100%57%Time-of-Possession27%51%38%58%Faceoff Win Rate14%83%43%67%Time/Possession36.3s38.9s38.2s61.6sTime to First Shot31.7s36.7s45.1s55.8sShots per Possession0.430.750.780.88Defensive Efficiency33.3%11.1%27.3%16.7%Save Pct62.5%66.7%57.1%75.0%
The thing that made this so interesting to me was that their offensive efficiency didn’t suffer; they were still at 38%. That tends to be the trade-off with respect to clock-milking. Teams that want to slow the game and wind clock have a hard time getting into an effective offensive set at the end. Not Penn State.
To me, this is one of the single biggest reasons that their offense has been so effective. They seem to have the ability to kill clock AND still get good chances. Scary thought for any team that should find themselves looking up at a Nittany Lions lead.
Quarter Breakdown
Ohio State: Quarter BreakdownQ1Q2Q3Q4Goals3131Shots127108Possessions99116Offensive Efficiency33.3%11.1%27.3%16.7%Shooting %25%14%30%12%Turnover Rate22.2%33.3%27.3%66.7%Shots-on-Goal %67%43%70%50%Time-of-Possession73%49%62%42%Faceoff Win Rate86%17%57%33%Time/Possession74.9s50.1s50.1s60.0sTime to First Shot46.9s42.7s26.9s31.8sShots per Possession1.330.780.911.33Defensive Efficiency42.9%33.3%33.3%37.5%Save Pct0.0%33.3%57.1%25.0%
The big thing that stands out there was the FO win rate. They ended up with a 4-possession advantage in the 1st and 3rd quarters compared to a 5-possession disadvantage the rest of the way. Simply put, getting extra possessions allowed Ohio State to negate some of the built-in advantages that the Penn State squad brings to all their games.
If they were to meet again, look for Ohio State to find ways to generate extra possessions, especially if they aren’t able to do it via the face-off game.
Let’s talk about Grant Ament
Q1Q2Q3Q4TotalGoals00022Assists13206Shots01034Shots on Goal00022Shooting PctN/A0%N/A67%50%Groundballs00000Turnovers00000EGA0.501.711.002.265.48
Best way to hang with Penn State: keep the ball out of their offense’s stick.
Let’s talk about Cole Willard
Q1Q2Q3Q4TotalGoals10113Assists00000Shots10113Shots on Goal10113Shooting Pct100%N/A100%100%100%Groundballs00000Turnovers00000EGA1.020.001.021.023.07
This year, Willard hasn’t ranked in the top 5 of Penn State’s offensive stable, in terms of total EGA. Maybe he needs a bigger role?