Ohio State
3-2-0, 0-1-0
Michigan State
4-2-1, 1-0-0
Ohio State Drops B1G Opener to MSU, 2-1
10/29/2021 9:49:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's hockey team outshot Michigan State, 42-17, but was able to put just one shot past the Spartan goaltender, falling 2-1 in the Big Ten opener for both teams Friday in Value City Arena. The teams traded power play goals in the first period but a 4-on-4 goal in the second period by the Spartans stood as the gamewinner.
The Buckeyes (3-2-0, 0-1-0 B1G) and Spartans (3-2-0, 1-0-0 B1G) will wrap up the series at 2 p.m. Saturday in Columbus. Game, ticket and parking information
Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
"I like our team's compete. I think we did that from start to finish. Our guys are going to keep on coming. At the end of the day it comes down to special teams most of the time. We had our chances, especially a couple power plays in the third. We have to get more pucks to the net. Credit Michigan State. Their goaltender played great and they played good tough defense.
"At the end of the day it's not about who has more shots it's who has more goals and Michigan State had more than us tonight."
How it Happened
- The teams traded power play goals in the first period.
- Josh Nodler opened the scoring for the Spartans at 5:45, just nine seconds after their power play started.
- At 14:20 Jake Wise one-timed a pass from Georgii Merkulov for his first goal in the Scarlet and Gray. Mark Cheremeta also assisted on the tally.
- At 15:39 of the second period with the teams skating 4-on-4 Erik Middendorf got behind the Buckeye defense and converted a breakaway to put Michigan State ahead again.
- The Buckeyes outshot the Spartans 29-11 over the first two periods; 12-4 in the first and 19-7 in the second.
- In the third, Ohio State had two power play chances but was unable to score, putting just two shots on net with the man advantage.
- The Buckeyes had to kill a power play with less than four minutes remaining. Ohio State kept it a one-goal game and pulled its goalie for the extra attacker for the final minute but was held off the scoreboard.
- Shots were 11-6 in favor of Ohio State in the third. Six Ohio State shot attempts were blocked in the final period.
- Michigan State goalie Drew DeRidder ended the game with 41 saves in all 60 minutes. Freshman Jakub Dobes has 15 saves in 59:15 for Ohio State.
- Each team had one power play goal; Ohio State was 1-for-3 and Michigan State was 1-for-2.
- The loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Buckeyes.
Jake Wise tied the game in the first period with his first goal in the Scarlet and Gray! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/6qIgMBhbI2
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 29, 2021
"Everybody is disappointed tonight, but the nice part of college hockey is you got another game tomorrow." – Coach Rohlik
Coach and Will Riedell spoke following tonight's game vs. MSU.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/DObnFzj42k
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 30, 2021
