Ohio State
2-1-0
UConn
2-2-0
Buckeyes Rally for 4-3 Victory over UConn
10/15/2021 11:25:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – With 3.6 seconds left in overtime, captain Will Riedell completed a Buckeye comeback victory over UConn Friday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes trailed 1-0 after the first period and 3-0 by the 6:17 mark of the second, but scored the game's final four goals for a 4-3 win.
The Buckeyes (2-1-0, 0-0-0 B1G) and Huskies (2-2-0, 0-0-0 HEA) will close out the nonconference series at 3 p.m. Saturday in Columbus. Ticket information
Senior Quinn Preston opened the scoring for the Buckeyes in the second and freshman Cam Thiesing made it a one-goal game entering the third with a late second-period goal. Rookie Georgii Merkulov tied the game at 13:37 of the third before a senior closed it out, with Riedell completing a play with senior Jake Wise and freshman Mason Lohrei in 3-on-3 overtime. Freshman Jakub Dobes played 38:40 in relief for the win, stopping all 23 shots he faced, including six in the 3-on-3 overtime.
Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
"The one thing is you can never give up. That's the one thing I'm most proud about this team right now. I know it's early in the year. Not many times do you see a team down 3-zip and come back like that. To me, that's the most important thing that's come out of this. Never give up."
How it Happened
- The game was back and forth in the first period, with each team putting 13 shots on goal. UConn's Roman Kinal opened the scoring at 11:20.
- In the second John Spetz tallied at 2:18 and at 6:17 Jachym Kondelik converted on the power play for a 3-0 UConn advantage.
- The Buckeye comeback started at 9:12 on an Ohio State power play. Goalie Jakub Dobes found Tate Singleton at the UConn blue line with a stretch pass. He passed to Quinn Preston, who deked the defender and went around the goalie for a goal.
- Late in the second, Cam Thiesing won the battle for a puck that went back in the UConn zone between two UConn skaters and drove the net, scoring on a backhand. The goal was his first in the Scarlet and Gray.
- The Buckeye penalty kill came through in the third, killing off a 5-on-3 UConn advantage for 1:03 to keep it a one-goal game.
- Georgii Merkulov tied the game at three at 13:37 of the third, scoring from the high slot. The goal was an all-rookie tally, with Thiesing and rookie defenseman Cole McWard assisting.
- Across college hockey, overtime is five minutes of 3-on-3 play.
- Dobes made six saves in overtime before the Buckeye winner.
- On the goal, Jake Wise won the faceoff in the Buckeye zone to Riedell. He found Lohrei who carried through the neutral zone and he got the puck over to Wide coming down the right side. His backhand pass found Riedell crashing the net and he put it past the goalie with 3.6 seconds on the clock.
This and That
- Camden Thiesing notched his first collegiate point on his goal in the second period and added his first assist for his first two-point game in the third.
- Georgii Merkulov's goal was the first of his Buckeye career after picking up an assist in the last time out.
- Freshman defenseman Mason Lohrei has at least one point in each Buckeye game this year, with a goal and three assists.
- Will Riedell's goal was his first point as a Buckeye and Cole McWard's assist was his first collegiate point.
- Goalie Jakub Dobes' assist was his first point in the Scarlet and Gray.
BUCKEYES WIN!!
Riedell with the OT winner – from Wise and Lohrei – with 3.6 seconds left!
OSU 4, UConn 3/OT. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/ZBzNXcfZQG
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 16, 2021
What a goal by Quinn Preston!
Assist to goalie Jakub Dobes (his first collegiate point!) and Tate Singleton. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HoKn2OPAN1
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 16, 2021
Backhand snipe by freshman Cam Thiesing for his first goal in the Scarlet and Gray! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/jBND8FPW4h
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 16, 2021
An all-freshman goal for the Buckeyes has tied the game in the third.
Merkulov with the goal, Thiesing and McWard with the assists. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/5hf0DvLrDJ
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 16, 2021
