No. 11 Buckeyes Set to Face Spartans in Two-Game CCHA Series – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 20, 2004
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Faceoff
The No. 11 Ohio State men’s hockey team plays host to Michigan State for a two-game series this weekend. The Buckeyes (15-10-0, 10-7-0 CCHA) and Spartans (13-12-1, 9-6-1 CCHA) will meet at 8:05 p.m. Friday and at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Buckeyes swept the earlier meeting with the Spartans this season, posting 5-0 and 4-1 wins Oct. 17-18 at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich.
The Broadcast
The Buckeyes’ games vs. the Spartans will be broadcast by WOSU Radio (820 AM/wosu.org) with Neil Sika (play-by-play) and John Mowat (color) on the call. In addition, The Underground, Ohio State’s student-run radio, will broadcast the game online at www.underground.fm. Live stats from the game will be available online at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
Both games are scheduled to be televised. The Friday tilt will be on CSTV: College Sports Television as part of its Friday Night Hockey programming with Steve Schlanger (play-by-play) and Billy Jaffe (color) on the call. Saturday, the game will be on The Ohio News Network (ONN), with Randy Rhinehart calling the action and former Buckeye goalie Bill McKenzie providing color commentary.
Last Time Out
Ohio State is coming off a two-game sweep of Lake Superior State at home by 5-0 and 3-2 scores. Michigan State split its series at Bowling Green last weekend, winning the opener, 1-0, before falling, 3-2, in the finale.
In the Rankings
Ohio State, which has been ranked in the Top 15 for the majority of the season, moved up to the No. 11 spot in both the USCHO.com and USA Today/American Hockey Magazine polls released Monday. OSU is ranked 15th by insidecollegehockey.com in its power rankings.
The Fun Stuff
Friday, WBNS 1460 The Fan’s Herbie and Fitz Radio Show will be broadcast live from 3-6 p.m. from the Fred Taylor Room of the Schottenstein Center. Postgame, free American Eagle fragrance samples will be distributed.
Saturday, Frozen Four Packs will be available, which include four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four popcorns for only $40. Pregame, free Buckeye rally towels will be given out to the first 3,000 fans. Following the game, fans can meet Buckeye seniors Scott May and Dave Steckel during the postgame autograph session.
For ticket information, call 1-800 GO BUCKS or go online to www.hangonsloopy.com.
Welcome Back
A number of former Buckeyes will gather for the annual Ohio State Hockey Alumni Day Saturday. They will participate in an alumni skate and a pregame reception before watching the Buckeyes take on the Spartans.
The Series
The Buckeyes trail the all-time series with the Spartans, 16-68-7, but are unbeaten in the last six games against the squad (4-0-2). In Columbus, Ohio State trails 11-23-5. MSU has two extra wins in its series record, as it includes two games from the 1957-58 season Ohio State does not.
On a Roll
The Buckeyes are on a six-game unbeaten streak against the Spartans, the longest in history vs. Michigan State. Ohio State has back-to-back sweeps of the Spartans after posting two wins in East Lansing earlier this season, 5-0 and 4-1, and winning in Columbus 5-2 and 4-1 last year. The teams tied two games in the 2001-02 season to start the streak.
Prior to last season, the Buckeyes only other sweep over the Spartans came Nov. 3-4, 1972 and it was the only time in program history the Buckeyes won back-to-back games over MSU.
Streaking
Ohio State’s six-game unbeaten streak vs. Michigan State is tied for the squad’s second-longest current unbeaten streak vs. a CCHA opponent. The team is 7-0-2 in its last nine vs. Lake Superior State, 6-0-0 in its last six against Western Michigan and 4-0-2 vs. the Spartans.
The Coach vs. Sparty
Ohio State head coach John Markell is 9-15-3 all-time against Michigan State. One of his most important wins came over the Spartans, as the Buckeyes upset then-No. 1-ranked Michigan State in overtime in the 1998 NCAA West Regional Final to advance to the program’s first NCAA Frozen Four. The squad’s win over MSU Oct. 17 was the 150th of Markell’s career.
A Look at the Spartans
Michigan State is 13-12-1 on the year and 9-6-1 in the CCHA. The squad has split its last six series – vs. Bowling Green, UMass-Lowell, Northern Michigan, Michigan, Wayne State and Miami.
Jim Slater leads the Spartans and the CCHA in all games in scoring with 31 points. Mike Lalonde has a team-best 14 goals, while Slater has a team-high 18 assists. Lalonde is second with 26 points, followed by Tommy Goebel with a 9-10-19 line. In goal, Dominic Vicari has played 15 games, posting a 2.13 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. Matt Migliaccio has seen action in 11 games, with a 3.04 gaa and a .905 save percentage.
At the Helm
Rick Comley is in his second season as the head coach at Michigan State after a 26-year tenure at the helm of Northern Michigan. Comley also spent three seasons as the head coach at Lake Superior State, his alma mater. In his career, Comley has a record of 633-501-31. At MSU, Comley has a 46-26-3 ledger.
In Earlier Action
Earlier this season, Ohio State swept Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich., Oct. 17-18, 2003. It marked OSU’s first wins in East Lansing since the 1997 season and just its third and fourth wins there in program history. It was the first time the Spartans were swept at home since 1995.
In the first game, Ohio State used a solid team effort, with 10 Buckeyes posting at least one point, to shut out Michigan State, 5-0. Dan Knapp and Nate Guenin scored first-period goals, while Paul Caponigri added on a goal in the second and JB Bittner and Lee Spector ended the scoring with power-play tallies late in the third. Buckeye goalie Mike Betz stopped all 24 Michigan State shots for OSU’s first blanking of the Spartans in program history.
In the series finale, Scott May had three points, on two goals and an assist, to lead the squad to a 4-1 victory. Spector scored the gamewinner in the second period, while Bittner also tallied.
The Last Time in Columbus
The Buckeyes swept Michigan State in Columbus last year, winning the opener, 5-2, and the series finale, 4-1. In the first game (Nov. 15, 2002), Scott May and Paul Caponigri both posted a career-best four points to lead the Buckeyes. It was OSU’s first win over the Spartans since Nov. 14, 1998.
The next night (Nov. 16, 2002), Doug Andress scored two goals to pace the Buckeyes to their first sweep of the Spartans since 1972.
Record Setter
The shutout against Lake Superior State Friday (5-0) was senior goalie Mike Betz’s third on the season and 11th of his career. He broke Bill McKenzie’s career mark of 10, set from 1970-72.
Betz now owns the program records for career wins (68), career shutouts (11), season goals-against average (2.24 in 2003) and season shutouts (5). He stands in second place for career saves with 3,128, 123 shy of the all-time mark of 3,261 set by Dan Stergiou from 1973-76. Betz also is second in career goals-against average (2.58).
Sweep Success
Ohio State swept Lake Superior State by scores of 5-0 and 3-2 at home over the weekend. It was the Buckeyes’ third CCHA sweep of the season and second at home. The squad swept Alaska Fairbanks at home and Michigan State on the road.
Tough D in VCA
The Lakers’ goal in the second period Saturday ended Ohio State’s home shutout streak at 144:50. The Buckeyes had posted back-to-back shutouts of Quinnipiac (Jan. 6) and Lake Superior (Jan. 16) and had not allowed a goal since the 18:31 mark of the Dec. 5 game vs. Miami. The team is allowing 2.1 goals a game at home this season.
Joining the Club
Senior forward Scott May had three points in the Friday win over Lake Superior State to become the 49th Buckeye to reach the 100-point mark for his career. He ended the weekend with 101 points to tie for 46th all-time with Bill Davidge (74-77) and Jim Witherspoon (1971-74).
Go PK
Scott May scored shorthanded Friday, his first shg of the season and of his career. Ohio State now has five shorthanded markers on the season; the squad recorded six in 43 games last year.
So Close
Senior forward Dave Steckel should become the third Buckeye to hit the 100-point mark this season, joining Paul Caponigri and Scott May. Steckel has 45-49-94 totals in 129 career games.
Pointing to the Rookies
Freshman forward Bryce Anderson posted his first career goal and first career multiple-point game Friday against Lake Superior State. He added the primary assist on JB Bittner’s gamewinner Saturday for a team-high tying three-point weekend. Classmate Andrew Schembri scored in each game vs. the Lakers and is on a three-game (2-1-3) point streak.
A Winner
JB Bittner scored the gamewinner Saturday against the Lakers, his fourth gwg of the season. It matches his career best, set as a freshman in 2002. He leads the team with four gamewinners on the year and is tied for second in the nation in the category.
The Home Stretch
After the series this weekend, the Buckeyes will play host to just three more regular-season games in Value City Arena. The team will face Nebraska-Omaha in a two-game series Feb. 13-14 and will take on Miami March 6 in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Feb. 13 contest vs. the UNO Mavericks will feature free Hockey Brutus Bobbleheads for the first 1,000 fans courtesy of Huntington Banks. In addition, it will be Buck a Brat night and fans can enjoy Johnsonville Brats for $1 (while supplies last). Lastly, AAA cardholders can receive a ticket to the game for $4 by showing their AAA card at the game. The Feb. 14 game will be a Frozen Four Pack night, where fans can get four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and four popcorns for only $40.
On the Road Again
This season, members of the Buckeye hockey team have been keeping travel diaries on the squad’s road trips. Fans can read the entries by going to the men’s hockey page at ohiostatebuckeyes.com and clicking on the “On the Road” link.
Lighting the Lamp
The Buckeyes scored five goals Friday against Lake Superior State, their highest goal total since posting seven in a 7-0 win over Bowling Green Nov. 29. The squad has hit the five-goal or higher mark six times this season, all in conference play.
Help the Children
Ohio State senior goalie Mike Betz and the team will be holding a fundraising dinner at The Top Steakhouse April 18 to raise money for the Siouxland Tanzani Educational and Medical Ministries (STEMM). Members of the team will serve as waiters, with their tips going to the cause, and live and silent auctions will be held. For more information, call the OSU hockey office at 614-292-0820.
Last year, the event raised over $9,000. Betz and STEMM used part of the money this past summer to renovate an orphanage. In addition, the group built classrooms for elementary schools and was involved with HIV/AIDS education.
No. 19
Sophomore forward Rod Pelley is on a team-best four-game scoring streak. He scored a goal in each game at Michigan and had an assist in each game vs. Lake State. He now has six goals and six assists on the year for a career-best 12 points.
Got It
Senior Paul Caponigri scored on the power play Saturday against the Lakers, marking his career-high tying 13th goal of the year. Caponigri also had 13 goals in his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday …
Ohio State moved to 10-2-0 on Saturday and 4-7-0 on Friday with its sweep of Lake State. The squad is 0-1-0 on Sunday and 1-0-0 on Tuesday.
De-Fense!
The Buckeyes rank ninth in the country and first in the CCHA in team defense, allowing just 2.36 goals a game. The squad set a program record last season, as it gave up just 2.21 goals an outing.
Homestanding
The Buckeyes are in the midst of a season-high four-game homestand and opened the stretch 2-0-0. Last year, the squad had four consecutive games at home twice, going 3-1-0 in the first series (Oct. 25-Nov. 3) and 4-0-0 in the second (Dec. 7-Dec. 14).
A Key
This season, the score after the first period has been a good indicator of the final result for the Buckeyes. Ohio State is 8-1-0 when leading after one and 1-6-0 when trailing after the first. When tied after one, Ohio State is 6-3-0.
When leading after two, OSU is a perfect 13-0-0. When trailing going into the final stanza, Ohio State has not come back to win, going 0-7-0. When tied after two, the Buckeyes are 3-4-0.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will complete their season series with Bowling Green when they travel to the BGSU Ice Arena for one game at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31. Ohio State won the first meeting (Nov. 29) posting a 7-0 victory.
