No. 9 Men’s Hockey Shuts Out Findlay, 4-0 – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 7, 2003
Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 9-ranked Ohio State men’s hockey team, behind three points from junior Scott May, shut out Findlay, 4-0, Tuesday in Value City Arena. The win, OSU’s third shutout of the year, extended the Buckeyes’ unbeaten streak to eight (7-0-1).
Freshman goalie Dave Caruso made 15 saves for his second consecutive shutout. He has not allowed a goal in 120 minutes of play. May posted a goal and two assists for the Buckeyes. Ryan Kesler, in his first game back after competing in the World Junior Championships, had three assists, while R.J. Umberger posted a goal and an assist. Umberger extended his goal (11) and scoring streaks (11-6-17) to eight games.
The Buckeyes improve to 15-4-2 overall (9-2-1 CCHA). The Oilers drop to 8-9-1 (1-2-1 CHA).
After a weekend off, Ohio State will return to action with a two-game CCHA series against in-state foe Bowling Green. The Buckeyes and Falcons will face off at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 16-17, in Value City Arena.
There was no scoring in the first period. The Buckeyes had a number of chances right in front of the Oiler net, but were unable to convert. Each team was scoreless on its one power-play opportunity. In the stanza, OSU outshot Findlay, 16-4.
The second period ended with OSU leading, 2-0, on the strength of two power-play tallies. May got the Buckeyes on the board at 8:08, as he took an Umberger pass at the side of the net and scored. Kesler also had an assist on the play, as he tipped the puck toward May. Umberger ended the scoring with just 21 seconds left in the stanza with OSU on a 5×3 power play, as he blasted the puck from the right point past UF goalie Kevin Fines, set up by May and Kesler. OSU had 16 shots in the period and held Findlay to an OSU season-low two. OSU closed out the game with two goals in the third period. JB Bittner scored at the 10:01 mark, as his shot went in off the glove of Fines. Luke Pavlas and Doug Andress posted the helpers on the play. Pavlas’ assist was his first point on the season; every Buckeye skater now has at least one point this season. Caponigri ended the scoring with a power-play goal at 18:34, set up by Kesler and May. OSU had 15 shots in the stanza, Findlay nine.
OSU was 3-for-6 with the man advantage in the game and held Findlay scoreless on four chances.
The Buckeyes posted a season-high 47 shots in the game, with Fines making 43 saves for the Oilers. Findlay never has scored a goal on OSU, as it was shut out, 10-0, in the only other meeting (Nov. 28, 2000).
Postgame Quotes
Ohio State head coach John Markell
“I was pleased by our 4-0 effort. In games like this, you hope to get some guys in the goal-scoring column. I would have liked to see us score more than four goals on 47 shots but you have to give credit to their goalie. We were able to generate offense and had a chance to look at some different line combinations. Dave Caruso did a good job tonight and has two shutouts for us.
“There wasn’t any point where I thought we would lose tonight because we did well enough. I know my guys and I know they can play with more passion. There was some hitting going on and some competitiveness.
“We play Findlay because they are our friends and close to us. They are a quality interstate school we can compete against.”
Ohio State junior forward Scott May
“We started off a little slow and we have a tendency to do that against teams that aren’t ranked.
“If we would have scored in the first period, then we would have gained some momentum and kept on going. But, we scored in the second period and were able to get fired up.
“We have a lot of confidence right now since we are on an eight game unbeaten streak and I think it is really helping us.”
Ohio State freshman goalie Dave Caruso
“I try to talk to the team as much as I can during a slow game.”
“We did very well forechecking tonight during the penalty-kill.
“Our defense really played awesome tonight. They are keeping the shots out and you have to like that as a goalie.”
Findlay head coach Craig Barnett
“We still can’t score against Ohio State. Our guys worked very hard. We gave up three power-play goals, including a three-on-five. There is no question we played a superior team. We are going to take the positives out of this game and take them into our conference games.
“We have played five CCHA teams this season and the thing we have learned is that when we make mistakes they capitalize. We made fewer mistakes than last Saturday against Western Michigan. It only takes one shot to go in and many teams can win even though they are outshot. We were just looking to score the first goal and unfortunately that didn’t happen.
“The key for us was the first 10 minutes tonight. Kevin (Fines) made some great saves for us early in the game that kept it close. He played very well but was tired at the end.”
“Playing (in Value City Arena) is a great experience for our guys to be in a venue like this. One day we hope to get teams like Ohio State in our building. If I had a building like this I would never want to leave it either.”
Hockey Game Box Score (Final) Ohio State Hockey 2002-03 Findlay vs Ohio State (Jan 07, 2003 at Columbus, Ohio)
Findlay (8-9-1, 1-2-1 CHA) vs. Ohio State (15-4-2, 9-2-1 CCHA) Date: Jan 07, 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio Arena: Value City Arena Attendance:5153 Start time:7:05 pm End time:9:08 pm Total time:2:03
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Total Findlay 0 0 0 0 Ohio State 0 2 2 4
1st period – Penalties – Daymen Bencharski, OSU (charging) 8:28; D.J. Vogt, FIND (tripping) 15:54.
2nd period – 1, OSU, Scott May/6 (R.J. Umberger/12, Ryan Kesler/15) 8:08 (pp). 2, OSU, R.J. Umberger/17 (Scott May/17, Ryan Kesler/16) 19:39 (pp). Penalties – Kris Wiebe, FIND (tripping) 7:21; Lee Arnold, FIND (hooking) 11:41; Ryan Kesler, OSU (tripping) 16:23; Chris Wyzgowski, FIND (roughing) 16:23; Nate Guenin, OSU (roughing) 16:23; Lance Holmes, FIND (tripping) 18:34; Steve Traver, FIND (tripping) 19:34.
3rd period – 3, OSU, JB Bittner/2 (Luke Pavlas/1, Doug Andress/11) 10:01. 4, OSU, Paul Caponigri/6 (Ryan Kesler/17, Scott May/18) 18:34 (pp). Penalties – Chris Olsgard, OSU (roughing) 11:16; Paul Prefontaine, FIND (roughing) 11:16; Chris Olsgard, OSU (hit after whistle) 11:16; Paul Prefontaine, FIND (hooking) 11:16; Chris Olsgard, OSU (roughing) 11:16; Nick Udovicic, FIND (roughing) 16:52; Rod Pelley, OSU (slashing) 19:43.
Shots on goal – FIND 4-2-9 15; OSU 16-16-15 47.
Power plays – FIND 0 of 4; OSU 3 of 6.
Penalties – FIND 9 (18 min); OSU 7 (14 min).
Goalies – FIND, Kevin Fines 4-2-0 (60:00 minutes, 47 shots-43 saves); OSU, Dave Caruso 4-1-0 (60:00, 15-15).
A-5153 T-2:03 Three stars: 1. R.J. Umberger 2. Scott May 3. Dave Caruso Referee:John Murphy Assistant Referee:Brian Frerichs; Dave Kronenberg Win-Dave Caruso (4-1-0). Loss-Kevin Fines (4-2-0).
