Ohio State
15-8-6, 6-6-1-1B1G
Michigan State
6-18-3, 2-9-2-0B1G
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
No. 14 Buckeyes Post 3-2 Win at Michigan State
2/17/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 17, 2017
EAST LANSING, Mich. – A third period goal from John Wiitala, 33 saves from Christian Frey and three third period penalty kills led the No. 14-ranked Ohio State men’s hockey team to a 3-2 win at Michigan State Friday. The teams were tied at two entering the third but Wiitala broke the deadlock 1:44 into the stanza, redirecting a shot from Tanner Laczynski, and the Buckeyes made the one-goal lead hold.
The Buckeyes (15-8-6, 6-6-1-1 B1G) and Spartans will meet at 7 p.m. Saturday in Munn Ice Arena to close the weekend series.
Ohio State 3, Michigan State 2
The squads were tied at two after the first period. The Buckeyes took a one-goal lead twice, but the Spartans responded each time. Dakota Joshua put the Buckeyes on the board at 10:25 but the Spartans tied it less than two minutes later. Tanner Laczynski pushed Ohio State ahead at 15:27; Michigan State scored on the power play with 20 seconds left in the period for a 2-2 game after 20 minutes.
Neither team was able to score in the second. The Buckeyes started the third on the power play and did not convert, but right after the power play expired, John Wiitala notched the eventual gamewinner. The Buckeyes killed three Michigan State power plays in the third, including a chance (that turned into a 6-on-4 advantage with an empty net) with less than two minutes left in regulation.
John Wiitala with the redirection for the gamewinner. 5th career GWG for the sophomore. https://t.co/CDscBXd0mx #GoBUcks
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) February 18, 2017
Quoting Buckeye head coach Steve Rohlik
On the game
“We’ve been trying to put different pieces of the puzzle together and trying to find ways to win. We’ve had lots of guys stepping up and lots of different combinations. This was a big win for us on the road.”
On the penalty kill stepping up
“The first one (power play goal in the first period) went in, but most importantly we did our job on the one at the end and that’s what won us the game.”
Quoting sophomore forward John Wiitala
“It was a good road win. Our penalty kill came through at the end – it’s something we’ve been working on all week. It was good to get the first win, but the job isn’t over.”
Quoting freshman forward Tanner Laczynski
“I thought we had a gutty win today. We needed our penalty kill to come through and they did when we needed them most. We were nowhere near are top game but it is always nice to get a win.”
In the First …
Ohio State opened the scoring at 10:25 of the first. Janik Moser dumped the puck down low, where Dakota Joshua picked it up. He was able to jam the puck inside the post. The call was no goal on the ice, but was overturned after video review. Less than two minutes later the Spartans tied the game when Brennan Sanford scored on a rebound.
Freshman Tanner Laczynski put the Buckeyes ahead 2-1 at 15:27, scoring on a 2-on-1 that started in the neutral zone. Matt Miller assisted on the goal, Laczynski’s ninth of the year. The Spartans again tied the game, as Villiam Haag scored on the power play with 20 seconds remaining in the period.
The teams combined for 30 shots in the period, with the Spartans ahead, 16-14.
In the Second …
There was no scoring in the second period, with the Spartans outshooting the Buckeyes, 13-7. Each team was 0-for-1 on the power play in the stanza, putting one shot on net. There was also four minutes of 4-on-4 play. A second Buckeye power play chance started with 19 seconds left in the period.
In the Third …
The Buckeyes were unable to convert the carryover power play to start the third but three seconds after it expired John Wiitala redirected a shot by Tanner Laczynski, putting the Buckeyes ahead 3-2 at 1:44. Matt Miller also assisted on the score.
The Buckeye penalty kill held strong in the third, stopping Spartan chances at 4:47 and 8:16 to preserve the one-goal lead. A Buckeye penalty at 18:14 gave the Spartans an advantage to close out the game and they pulled their goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, but the Buckeyes did not allow a shot on goal.
Despite the power plays in the stanza, the teams combined for just 11 shots on goal, with the Spartans ahead 6-5.
Blocking the Puck
The Buckeyes were outshot, 35-26, in the game. Senior goalie Christian Frey had 33 saves in all 60 minutes. John Lethemon made 23 saves in 58:35 for Michigan State.
The Buckeyes blocked 11 shots in the game, led by Matt Miller with three and Matt Joyaux and Tommy Parran with two each.
Special Teams
The Buckeyes were scoreless on three power play chances in the game. The squad remains first nationally at 28.9 percent (35-for-121). It ended a streak of five consecutive games with at least one power play goal.
Michigan State was 1-for-5 with the man advantage.
Buckeye This and That
? Freshman Tanner Laczynski extended his point streak to five with a goal and an assist. He has a 3-4-7 line in the stretch. He ranks third on the team with 30 points, including nine goals and 21 assists. He is third in the NCAA and in the Big Ten in rookie points per game (1.25) and ranks 16th nationally in points per contest.
? Sophomore leading scorer Mason Jobst had his point streak, which started Dec. 3, end at 14 games. He has 14 goals and 26 assists for 40 points on the year, with 11 goals and 17 assists coming during his point streak.
? The Buckeyes are second nationally in scoring offense, averaging 4.10 goals per game. It ended a streak of four straight games with five or more goals
? Sophomore Dakota Joshua notched his ninth goal of the season and he has six in the last six games combined. On the year, he has 24 points on nine goals and 15 assists.
? Sophomore John Wiitala’s goal was his 10th this season. He has a career-high tying 18 points this season.
? Freshman Matt Miller had two assists for his first multiple point game as a Buckeye.
