Ohio State
4-2-0, 1-1-0B1G
Michigan State
4-3-1, 1-1-0B1G
Ohio State Downs Spartans, 5-1
10/30/2021 8:54:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mark Cheremeta's late second-period goal broke a one-all tie and stood as the gamewinner as the Ohio State men's hockey team defeated Michigan State, 5-1, Saturday in Value City Arena in The Schottenstein Center.
The win gives the Buckeyes, now 4-2-0 on the year and 1-1-0 in the Big Ten, a split of the series with the Spartans (4-3-1, 1-1-0 B1G).
The Short Story
The Buckeyes opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal just 2:33 into the game on a major penalty kill. The Spartans tied the game in the second and Mark Cheremeta's goal came less than five minutes after MSU tally. Ohio State added three goals in the second half of the third period for the 5-1 final. Patrick Guzzo and Camden Thiesing each had a goal and an assist in the win and Eric Cooley had two assists. Gustaf Westlund and Jaedon Leslie also scored for the Buckeyes, who outshot the Spartans 34-20.
Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
On the team's early kill of a major power play, including a shorthanded goal.
"That's how our team is. Everybody is behind one other. Some mistakes happen – you get a penalty like that – other guys are there to step up. That's exactly what these guys do."
Listen
Coach Rohlik and Jaedon Leslie postgame
How it Happened
- An early major penalty against the Buckeyes turned into momentum for Ohio State, as Ohio State scored shorthanded and allowed just one shot and no goals on the five-minute advantage for the Spartans.
- Eric Cooley forced a turnover in the neutral zone and put a shot past the goalie but it hit the post. Patrick Guzzo was there to put in the rebound for a 1-0 Buckeye lead and his first career shorthanded goal.
- Ohio State outshot the Spartans, 11-3, in the first and had two power plays of its own.
- At 11:47 of the second Josh Nodler tied the game with a power play goal for Michigan State.
- Less than five minutes later Mark Cheremeta regained the Buckeye lead. Will Riedell and Eric Cooley helped the Buckeyes gain possession in the Spartan zone and the puck went to Cheremeta all alone in the slot. He put a wrist shot past the goalie for his second goal of the year at 16:18.
- Ohio State held its one-goal lead until scoring three times in the final 12 minutes.
- At 8:16 Camden Thiesing tipped a shot by Ryan O'Connell for a two-goal cushion, with Cooley also assisting.
- The Spartans pulled their goalie with a little more than two minutes left and Gustaf Westlund took advantage. An MSU shot attempt from the point went to Westlund and he was able to skate down the ice and score unassisted.
- The final goal came at 19:08. Thiesing caused a turnover outside the MSU zone. His shot was saved but the puck was loose around the crease and Jaedon Leslie knocked it home for his first goal of the year.
- Ohio State oushot the Spartans, 34-20, in the game. Jakub Dobes made 19 saves for the Buckeyes in all 60 minutes.
- The Buckeyes blocked nine shots, led by Cooley with three.
Buckeye This and That
- Dobes is 4-1-0 this year, with a .86 goals-against average and .964 save percentage.
- O'Connell was a team-best and career-high +4 in the game.
- Cooley's two assists were the first points of his Buckeye career.
- Guzzo had a goal and an assist for his first multiple-point game in the Scarlet and Gray.
- With a goal and an assist Thiesing had his second career two-point game.
- The Buckeyes held the Spartans to 20 shots on goal in game two after allowing just 17 shots on net in the series opener.
Up Next
Ohio State closes out its homestand with a series vs. Penn State next week. The teams will meet at 7 p.m. Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday, with the games streamed through B1G+ and on Ohio State Radio. TICKET INFORMATION
Halftime of the football game … a great time to watch highlights from today's 5-1 win over the Spartans! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/SVbpFjJiaR
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 31, 2021
Game puck and hard hat awarded to Eric Cooley after the 5-1 win!
The graduate student had two assists (his first points as a Buckeye), was +2 and blocked three shots in the game. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/M8MraWXwpP
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) October 30, 2021
