Hockey Opens CCHA Tournament at Home – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/8/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
GAMES NO. 38, 39, & POSSIBLY 40
The Ohio State hockey team (19-14-4, 17-10-3) will enter the CCHA Tournament at home for the second straight year this weekend, hosting Ferris State (14-14-6, 13-12-5) in a best-of-three series starting Friday, March 12. The winner of the series will advance to the CCHA semifinals in Joe Louis Arena March 19. Friday and Saturday’s games will begin at 7 p.m. in Value City Arena (17,500). Sunday’s game, if necessary, will begin at a time yet to be determined
THE BROADCAST
Central Ohio Sport! TV will produce all tournament games this weekend for tape-delay broadcast. The station, created through a partnership between Insight Communications (Ch. 36) and Time Warner Communications (Ch. 24), reaches more than 300,000 households. Randy Rhinehart (play-by-play) and former NHL goaltender Bill McKenzie (color) will call the game.
WOSU Radio, in its inaugural season of airing live OSU hockey action, will broadcast all tournament games this weekend. Herb Howenstine (play-by-play) and John Mowat (color) will call the action.
CHAMPIONSHIP CREDENTIALS
Members of the media may use their 1998-99 regular season media credential to gain access to this weekend’s playoff games. Please contact the OSU Athletic Communications office with credential questions.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
Ohio State ended the regular season with a 17-10-3 CCHA record, good for third place in the conference. It marks the second straight year the Buckeyes have finished third in the CCHA, the nation’s premier hockey conference. Prior to this season, OSU had not had consecutive finishes in the top three since the 1982-’83, ’83-’84 seasons (finished second both years).
IT’S BEEN QUITE A WHILE
This also marks the second consecutive year Ohio State has finished among the league’s top four and hosted its first round playoff series. Prior to this season, OSU had not hosted consecutive first round playoff series since the 1982-’83, ’84 seasons.
YET ANOTHER WINNER
For the third straight season, a member of the Ohio State hockey team has been named to the Bauer/CCHA all-Rookie team. Jason Crain, a first-year defenseman from Natrona Heights, Pa., was one of two blueliners to be named to the team, the league office announced Monday. Crain ranked among the leading scoring freshmen defensemen in the CCHA the entire season, and twice won CCHA Rookie of the Week honors (Nov. 29 and Dec. 6). He finished the regular season with two goals and 13 assists, and was the only freshman to play in every game for the Buckeyes this season. A big part of the OSU power-play this season, Crain was ranked the 82nd best player available in the 1999 NHL Draft by the league’s Central Scouting Bureau.
GAMES FOUR, FIVE, AND MAYBE SIX
Ohio State won the season series against Ferris State, 2-1-0, this year. Each team won the games they played at home. Ferris State won 4-2 in an Oct. 17 contest in Big Rapids, Mich. The Buckeyes topped the Bulldogs 3-0 on Jan. 21 and 4-1 on Feb. 19 in Columbus.
SERIES INFO
Ohio State leads the all-time series against Ferris State, 42-27-9. The Buckeyes have won six of the last seven against the Bulldogs. OSU is 25-10-7 all-time against FSU in Columbus.
POSTSEASON SERIES INFO
The series is tied at 1-1-2 in games played in the postseason. Ohio State and Ferris State met in 1980 and 1981 in the CCHA Tournament, with all games being played in Columbus.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
After hanging among the top four in the CCHA for the first half of the season, Ferris State has won just three of its last 13 games and ended the year in sixth place. The Bulldogs are led offensively by Brian McCullough (13-14-27), Kevin Swider (12-10-22), and captain Joel Irwin (10-12-22). Jim Dube (6-7-13), one of the top offensive defensemen in the conference, headlines the group of FSU blueliners. Vince Owen, a sophomore goaltender, may be the heart and soul of the Bulldogs. The CCHA’s leader in shutouts with four, Owen will bring a 2.41 goals against average and a .912 save percentage into this weekend. Owen’s last outing was not a memorable one, however. On March 5 against Michigan State, the Thompson, Man. native, was lit up for four goals in the second period and pulled after two periods. Backup Phil Osaer has been impressive in limited action. In 324 minutes of play, Osaer sports a 1.48 goals against average and a .949 save percentage. Ferris State ranks ninth in the conference in power-play percentage (23-of-168; .137) and third in the league in penalty-killing (141-of-162; .870). The Bulldogs are coached by Bob Daniels, a 1962 graduate of Michigan State. Now in his seventh year behind the FSU bench, Daniels will bring a career 100-139-24 mark into this weekend.
OSU LAST WEEKEND
Ohio State dropped both games of a home-and-home series with Bowling Green last week. The Buckeyes dropped a 2-1 decision last Tuesday, March 2, in Columbus. After spotting the Falcons a pair of goals in the first 24 minutes of the game, the Buckeyes were unable to recover. Ryan Jestadt cut the Falcon lead in half with a goal at 19:14 in the second period, but BGSU goalie Mike Savard stopped 14 OSU shots in the final 20 minutes to seal the game
OSU journeyed to Bowling Green Saturday night and again fell behind 2-0 in the first nine minutes on a pair of Falcon power-play goals. Savard was huge for the Falcons, stopping all 28 OSU shots for the shutout. BGSU senior forward Dan Price added a late-empty netter for his third point of the game, sealing the 3-0 win for the Falcons and clinching the CCHA scoring crown for himself.
FERRIS STATE’S LAST ACTION
The Bulldogs visited East Lansing, Mich., for a pair of games with CCHA regular season champion Michigan State. In a 4-1 win last Friday night, MSU scored four goals in the second period and limited Ferris State to just 16 shots on goal in the game. That win extended the Spartan unbeaten streak to a school record 23 games, but that run would come to an end Saturday night as Ferris State notched a 2-1 win. Backup goaltender Phil Osaer stopped 25-of-26 Spartan shots and Joel Irwin and Rob Kozak scored for the Bulldogs, who secured sixth place in the CCHA standings with the win.
OSU vs. FSU – LAST TIME
Chris Richards had a hand in three straight OSU goals in a Feb. 19, 4-1 win over Ferris State in Value City Arena. Richards scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner at 6:35 in the first period, and assisted on a Brian Morrison power-play goal. Ryan Jestadt also scored for Ohio State. Jeff Maund lost his bid for a second straight shutout against the Bulldogs when Brent Wishart scored at 2:04 in the third period. The OSU power-play connected on two-of-five power-play opportunities in the win.
LET’S END THIS
Ohio State is in the midst of a three-game losing streak – its longest of the season. Prior to this point, Ohio State had not lost three consecutive games since midway through the 1997-98 season (12/13/97, 1/2-3/98).
BOISVERT FALLS JUST SHORT
After leading the CCHA in league scoring for the majority of the second half of the season, All-American Hugo Boisvert was held scoreless in his final three games and dropped to third place in the league scoring race. BGSU’s Dan Price used an unassisted empty-net goal to pass teammate Adam Edinger and capture the crown with 42 points. Edinger finished second with 41 points, and Boisvert ended the year in third place with 38 points. Prior to this point, Boisvert had played in 72 consecutive games without being held scoreless in three straight games. The last time Boisvert did not score in three consecutive games was October of 1997.
CONFERENCE LEADER
With his rocket slapshot goal Tuesday against Bowling Green, Ryan Jestadt is tied for the conference lead in goals scored by defensemen with eight. Seven of his eight goals have come at home, and five of the eight have come in Value City Arena. Since Jan. 23, Jestadt is tied with All-American (and more importantly forward) Hugo Boisvert for the team lead in goals with five.
RECORD TYING LOSS
With last Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Falcons, the Buckeyes have now played in 15 one-goal games this season, tying a school record set by the 1986-87 team Ohio State is 8-7-0 in one-goal games this season.
SHOOTING FOR NO. 20
Ohio State will try a fourth time to pick up its 20th win of the season when it faces Ferris State. If the Buckeyes are successful, it will mark the first time in a decade-and-a-half that Ohio State has enjoyed consecutive 20-win seasons. It would also become the 10th 20-win season in school history.
OSU IN THE CCHA TOURNEY
The Buckeyes are 19-40-4 all-time in the CCHA Tournament, and had their best showing since 1984 last season. Ohio State went 3-1 before eventually falling in the CCHA Championship game to Michigan State in double overtime last year. OSU captured the first ever CCHA tournament title in 1972, and former Buckeye goaltender Bill McKenzie was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
MR. EVERYTHING
All-American Hugo Boisvert leads the Buckeyes in even strength points (11-11-22), short-handed points (1-3-4), and power-play points (10-12-22). Boisvert is bidding to become the first-ever Ohio State player to gain first-team all-CCHA honors in consecutive seasons.
HITTING US WITH THEIR BEST SHOT
Ohio State has been the victim of some extremely hot goaltending of late. In the last three game, opposing goaltenders have stopped a combined 108-of-111 shots against the Buckeyes (.973 save percentage).
GLAD TO BE PLAYING AT HOME
Ohio State is 22-3-2 in its last 27 home games. The Buckeyes went 5-0-0 in the OSU Ice Arena this season and have gone 6-3-1 in Value City Arena. OSU has averaged 11,263 fans per game in Value City Arena this season (112,636 total fans).
MORE VALUE CITY ARENA ADVANTAGE
Ohio State has played its best defensive hockey at home this season, and is surrendering an average of only 26 shots per game in Value City Arena. Opponents have scored just 13 goals in 10 games in the Arena, and the Buckeyes have outscored their foes 34-10 in their new home. The OSU penalty-killing unit has been stellar in Value City Arena as well, stopping 54-of-57 opponent power-play attempts (.947).
SPEAKING OF DEFENSE
The Buckeyes are now 12-5-2 when surrendering 30 shots or less and 7-9-2 when giving up 31 or more shots. OSU has held opponents to 30 or less shots in eight of the ten games played at Value City Arena.
MAUND MATTERS
Jeff Maund is vying to become the third first-team all-CCHA goalie in OSU history (John Dougan – 1984 and Mike Blake – 1981 are the others) this year. Maund ranks second in the CCHA with a 2.07 goals against average and a .927 save percentage. His league save percentage mark is the third highest in CCHA history (behind MSU’s Joe Blackburn’s .935 mark this year and BGSU’s Brian Stankiewicz’s .932 in 1978).
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE
Maund’s 2.32 goals against average (overall games) ranks second all-time at Ohio State. Depending on his performance in the postseason, Maund is within striking distance of the single season OSU GAA record of 2.25 set by Bill McKenzie in 1972.
THE HOUSE THAT MAUND BUILT
Maund has been nothing short of spectacular in Value City Arena this season. He owns a 1.30 goals against average in the building along with a .950 save percentage. Maund has held 60 percent of his opponents in Value City Arena to one goal or less (six of 10).
THE CENTURY MARK TIMES 10
Maund needs just 74 saves to crack the 1,000 mark for the season. He would become just the third goaltender is OSU history to record 1,000 saves in a season (Mike Bales and Mike Blake, who both went on to play in the National Hockey League are the others). Maund leads the CCHA in total saves this year.
THE 1998-99 OSU-FSU SERIES
Some notes on the three earlier meetings between Ohio State and Ferris State this year:
OSU is a combined three-of-12 on the power-play while FSU is acombined three-of-20. The team that has scored the most power-playgoals in each of the meetings has won. The series pits two of thetop goaltenders in the CCHA against each other in OSU’s Jeff Maundand FSU’s Vince Owen. Maund has a .980 save percentage against FSUthis year (48-of-49), while Owen has an .877 save percentage(57-of-65) against OSU this season. Chris Richards (2-2-4) and HugoBoisvert (1-3-4) have been OSU’s leading scorers in the series,while Brian McCullough (1-2-3) has been FSU’s offensive leader. OSUhas outscored the Bulldogs 9-5 in the three games. The Buckeyeshave outscored FSU 7-0 in the first and second periods combined,but Ferris State has outscored Ohio State 5-2 in the third period.Ohio State has 29 total penalties in the three games, while FerrisState has 19. Chris Richards and Jean-Francois Dufour lead OhioState with +3 rating combined in the three meetings.
DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
In the first 19 games of the season, Ohio State surrendered an average of 32.63 shots on goal per game (620 total). In the last 18 games of the year, that figure dropped to 28.72 opponent shots per game (517 total). OSU’s defense has been even more solid at home. In Value City Arena, Ohio State is surrendering only 26.0 shots per game (260 total). In road games this season, the Buckeyes are giving up 33.27 shots on goal per game (732 total).
COLD OF LATE BUT HOT ALL YEAR
Ohio State’s special teams, for three-fourths of the season among the upper echelon of the CCHA, have been slumping a bit of late. The Buckeyes have not scored in their last 18 power-play attempts, and have not shut out an opponent power-play unit in the last eight games. OSU finished second in the league in penalty-killing (168-of-191; .880). In overall games, Ohio State’s power-play ranked third in the CCHA (38-of-215; .177).
YOUR BIG GUNS HAVE TO CARRY YOU
In both losses last week to Bowling Green, Ohio State centers Hugo Boisvert and Chris Richards were held scoreless. The Buckeyes are now 0-5-1 when Boisvert and Richards, their top two scorers, are held scoreless.
MOVING UP THE SCORING LADDER
Several changes will have to be made to the Ohio State hockey record book after this season. With 144 career points, Hugo Boisvert now stands in sole possession of 20th place on the school’s all-time scoring list. With his assist against Ferris State on Feb. 19 for that 144th career point, Boisvert passed former OSU head coach Jerry Welsh on the all-time scoring list. Next up for Boisvert on the list is Gord Peters, who from 1970-’73 collected 148 career points and sits in 19th place on the all-time list.
With three points against the Bulldogs on Feb. 19, Chris Richards moved into a tie for 27th place on the all-time OSU scoring list. Richards has 130 career points (43-87-130) and is tied with Mike Conrad (1977-’80) on the career list. Dave Hoyles (26th place with 131), Steve Pankiw (25th place with 133), and Mark Freeman (24th place with 135) are all within striking distance of Richards this season.
RECORD BOOK, PART II
Scoring records are not the only ones being broken by Ohio State this season. Jeff Maund collected his 40th career win against Ferris State and has moved into sole possession of sixth place on the all-time goalie win list at OSU. Maund, who last year posted the second best goals against average in school history (2.36) is within striking distance of the Bill McKenzie’s school record 2.25 GAA in 1972 this year.
THEY SCORE, WE WIN
When Ohio State defensemen score, the Buckeyes are tough to beat. OSU is now 8-1-0 when Scott Titus scores a point, 7-1-2 when Ryan Jestadt scores a point, 4-1-1 when Jaisen Freeman scores a point, 13-4-1 when Andre Signoretti scores a point, 9-4-1 when Jason Crain scores a point, and 1-0-0 when Ryan Skaleski scores a point.
THEY DON’T SCORE, WE DON’T WIN
Ohio State is winless at 0-4-0 in games where no OSU defenseman records a point (10/23 vs. Notre Dame, 11/6 vs. Michigan State, 12/27 vs. Boston University; 3/6 vs. Bowling Green).
THESE ARE THE DAYS
Following is a breakdown of Ohio State’s record on certain days of the week:
Day All Games CCHA Friday 10-3-0 10-2-0 Saturday 6-8-3 5-6-3 Sunday 0-1-1 0-0-0 Monday 1-0-0 0-0-0 Tuesday 0-2-0 0-2-0 Thursday 2-0-0 2-0-0
KEY COMPONENT
Eric Meloche, who ranks fourth on the team in scoring with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points, has been battling nagging injuries the entire season. Meloche missed seven games earlier in the season and the Buckeyes went 1-5-1 without him. Since his return, OSU is 18-9-3.
CONTINUED CONTRIBUTIONS
It’s been a tale of two seasons for Ohio State’s Brian Morrison. The senior forward was a healthy scratch for the first 23 games of the season. After that, he played in 13 consecutive games and the Buckeyes went 8-3-2 during that stretch. Morrison has two goals and three assists for five points and is +1 playing mostly on OSU’s fourth line.
TALE OF TWO SEASONS
Jean-Francois Dufour, an honorable mention CCHA all-Rookie team selection last year, ranks third on the team in scoring with 9-14-23 totals. Dufour had just four points in his first 13 games of the season. Since then, however, he has scored at least a point in 16 of his last 24 games (6-13-19 over that span).
ALL-MYLANTA TEAM
On four different occasions this year, Ohio State has scored in the last :30 seconds of the game to win or tie and then win overtime. On Nov. 20 against Miami, Ryan Jestadt scored with five seconds left to tie the game (which OSU won 2-1 in overtime). On Nov. 27 in Alaska-Fairbanks, Hugo Boisvert scored with :14 seconds left to tie the game (which OSU won 3-2 in overtime). On Dec. 28 in Minnesota, Eric Meloche scored a one-timer goal with :28 seconds left to give OSU a 6-5 win. Against Bowling Green Feb. 5, Morrison’s goal came with :15 seconds remaining and gave OSU a 3-2 win.
