Ohio State
16-8-6, 7-6-1-1B1G
Michigan State
6-19-3, 2-10-2-0B1G
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
No. 14 Buckeyes Complete Sweep with 4-3 Win at Michigan State
2/18/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 18, 2017
EAST LANSING, Mich. – With goals from four players and a point from 10, the No. 14-ranked Ohio State men’s hockey team skated to a 4-3 win at Michigan State Saturday. The win gives the Buckeyes, now 16-8-6 overall and 7-6-1-1 in the Big Ten, a sweep of the weekend series after a 3-2 win Friday.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will host Michigan for two games next weekend. The teams will meet at 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday in Value City Arena. Script Ohio on Ice will be performed during the first intermission of the game Friday. Saturday night is a Scarlet Out.
Ohio State 4, Michigan State 3
The Buckeyes led 1-0 after the first period on a power play goal by Matt Miller. Nick Schilkey and Brendon Kearney scored 27 seconds apart in the first two minutes of the second period for a 3-0 advantage. The Spartans scored the next two for a 3-2 game after 40 minutes. Matthew Weis tallied for the Buckeyes just 1:48 into the third for a 4-2 lead. The Spartans converted on the power play at 13:58 to draw within one. The Buckeyes limited the Spartans to six shots in the third, including just one when MSU skated with the net empty for the final 2:12 of regulation, to secure the win.
Buckeyes had goals from M. Miller, Schilkey, Kearney & Weis tonight in the 4-3 win at MSU. https://t.co/4anxM3ZQKi #GoBucks
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) February 19, 2017
Quoting Buckeye head coach Steve Rohlik
“We came out and played a much better overall game for the first half that we did last night. Certainly Michigan State got a momentum swing when they scored their first goal. Basically we did enough to get the job done.”
Quoting sophomore forward Brendon Kearney
“It was a big team effort to get the win tonight – penalty kill, power play, all four lines and six D. Everybody stepped up when we needed them to and we were happy to get the sweep.”
Quoting freshman defenseman Matt Miller
“This definitely was not a pretty win, but at the end of the day we did what we came here to do. We have a lot to learn from moving forward. I think our D corps stepped up in a big way. We are happy with the weekend.”
In the First …
The lone goal of the first period came from freshman Matt Miller on the power play, as his shot from the point got through. He has a power play goal in two of the last three games and a 2-2-4 line in his last three games combined. Matt Joyuax and Matthew Weis assisted on the tally, which came at 12:17.
Shots were 9-6 in favor of the Spartans in the opening period. The Buckeye penalty kill was 3-for-3 in the stanza.
In the Second …
The Buckeyes scored twice in the first two minutes of the second to extend the lead to 3-0. At 1:18 senior Nick Schilkey scored his 23rd of the year. With the Buckeyes on the power play, he took a pass from David Gust and came up the right side. His shot went over the goalie’s shoulder for a 2-0 Buckeye advantage. Freshman Gordi Myer also assisted on the goal. Just 27 seconds later sophomore Brendon Kearney notched his first of the year. His original shot from right in front, off a pass from Kevin Miller, snuck through and was sitting in the crease. Kearney was able to get to the puck and knock it over the line at 1:45. Christian Lampasso also had a helper on the goal.
The Spartans scored the next two, with Logan Lambdin tallying less than a minute after Kearney and Mason Appleton converting at 13:16 for a one-goal game.
Ohio State outshot the Spartans, 14-4, in the period. The Buckeyes were 1-for-3 on the power play in the stanza, with one of the chances carrying over from the first period.
In the Third …
The Buckeyes scored another early goal in the third. Off a faceoff deep in the Spartan zone, John Wiitala was able to get to the puck in front and pass to Matthew Weis at the far post for a goal and 4-2 Buckeye lead at 1:48.
The Spartans again made it a one-goal game at 13:58 when Sam Saliba scored with one second remaining on a power play. The Buckeye defense held strong the rest of the game, including the final 2:12 when the Spartans skated with the net empty for the extra attacker.
The teams combined for just 10 shots in the period, with Ohio State ahead 6-4. The Spartans had the only power play chance.
Blocking the Puck
Ohio State outshot Michigan State, 24-19. Senior goalie Christian Frey made 16 saves in the Buckeye net in all 60 minutes. The Spartans’ Ed Minney had 20 stops in 57:48.
The Buckeyes blocked 17 shots in the game, led by Matt Miller with four and Gordi Myer with three.
Special Teams
The Buckeyes were 2-for-4 on the power play in the game. The squad leads the NCAA on the power play at 29.6 percent (37-for-125).
Michigan State was 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
Buckeye This and That
? Senior Nick Schilkey notched his 23rd goal of the year, the most for a Buckeye since 2005 (Mathieu Beaudoin). He leads the NCAA in goals per game (.88) and is tied for third in total goals, ranking first in the Big Ten. Schilkey has 35 points on the year, ranking second on the team, and is 12th in the NCAA with 1.35 points per game.
? The Buckeyes are third nationally in scoring offense, averaging 4.10 goals per game.
? Matthew Weis had two points on a goal and an assist. He has a 9-18-27 line on the year, with a point in eight of the last 10 games, including three two-point nights.
? Ohio State’s last seven games have all been decided by one goal, with OSU 4-3 in the stretch. The team is 7-3 in one-goal games this season.
? The Buckeyes’ win was their 11th on the road this year, tying for second nationally.
