Ohio State
12-6-0
Bowling Green
8-7-3
No. 17 Ohio State Posts 3-2 Win to Sweep Bowling Green
12/17/2021 11:38:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Photo credit Isaiah Vazquez
COLUMBUS, Ohio –The No. 17 Ohio State men's hockey team will head into its December break 12-6-0 on the year after completing a sweep of Bowling Green with a 3-2 win Friday in Bowling Green, Ohio. The Buckeyes came from a goal down twice and Cam Thiesing's tally in the third stood as the gamewinner. Goalie Jakub Dobeš had a career-high 42 saves in the game, including on a penalty shot in the final minute.
Ohio State beat the Falcons (8-7-3, 6-5-1 CCHA) 4-3 in overtime Thursday in Columbus to open the series.
Up Next
The series with the Falcons closed out the first half of the schedule for the Buckeyes. They will return to action with a two-game set vs. LIU at 5 p.m. Dec. 31 and 3 p.m. Jan. 1 in Value City Arena in the Schottenstein Center.
The Short Story
The first four goals were all on the power play, with Bowling Green going ahead twice. The Falcons netted the only goal of the first period at 14:19. At 6:10 of the second Grant Gabriele tied the game for the Buckeyes, but Bowling Green answered less than two minutes later for a 2-1 advantage at 7:49. Georgii Merkulov deadlocked the score at two at the 13:10 mark. In the third, Buckeye freshman Cam Thiesing tallied the eventual gamewinner at 6:37.
With 29 seconds remaining, the referees had a lengthy review of penalties from action after the whistle. On the ensuing restart, the clock was not started. Dobeš knocked the net off to alert the officials. Intentionally knocking the net off in the final two minutes is an automatic penalty shot. The rookie held strong and made the save to maintain the Buckeyes' one-goal lead. Play resumed with 19.6 on the clock and the Buckeyes closed out the win. The Falcons skated the final 2:42 with their net empty.
Dobeš had 42 saves, as the Buckeyes were outshot, 44-28. Merkulov had a career-best three points with a goal and two assists, while Gabriele had a two-point night with a goal and a helper.
Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
On the focus after an overtime win Friday
"I made a point we had to be better. That's a really good team we just played. Two close games. We're happy to be on top."
Highlighting tonight's win …
Gabriele
Merkulov
Thiesing
? Dobeš#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/uDZ9nrn6VS— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) December 18, 2021
How it Happened
- The first period was fairly even, with Bowling Green holding the shot advantage, 10-9, and each team with two power play chances.
- The Falcons converted their first power play chance to open the scoring at 14:19, with Gabriel Chicoine tallying.
- The Buckeyes tied the game at 6:10 on Grant Gabriele's third goal of the season. The Buckeyes controlled play and had a number of attempts before Merkulov passed to Gabriele in the faceoff circle and he scored. Jake Wise also assisted on the tally.
- Bowling Green answered with a power play tally at 7:49, with Sam Craggs scoring.
- At 13:10 Merkulov notched a power play tally of his own, scoring off a pass from Gabriele. Mason Lohrei also assisted on the tally, Merkulov's team-best seventh of the year.
- Cam Thiesing put the Buckeyes ahead 6:37 into the third, as he was all alone in front and scored with Merkulov and Patrick Guzzo picking up the assists.
- The game's final minutes took nearly 20 minutes of actual time, with video reviews for penalties and clock time.
- With 20 seconds remaining, Dobeš stopped a penalty shot by Taylor Schneider to keep the Buckeyes in the lead. The penalty shot was the result of a penalty on Dobeš for knocking the net off intentionally.
- The Buckeyes were outshot 18-10 in the third.
- For the game, the Buckeyes were 2-for-4 on the power play, with Bowling Green 2-for-5.
Buckeye This and That
- Ohio State scored the game's final two goals for the win Thursday after scoring the last four to win Thursday. Both were one-goal contests.
- The Buckeyes are outscoring opponents 30-12 in the third period this season.
- Merkulov leads the Buckeyes with seven goals and 17 points. It was his third career multiple point outing and first two-assist night.
- Lohrei is first on the squad with 13 assists.
- Gabriele marked his third career game and second this season with two points.
- It was the first penalty shot faced by the Buckeyes since Nov. 10, 2017 when Tommy Nappier stopped an attempt against UConn.
- The sweep was the Buckeyes' third this season and second in non-conference action.
Highlights: #17 @OhioStateMHKY (3) at @BGFalconHockey (2). #CCHA | #CCHAHockey pic.twitter.com/GOqK9Bld72
— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) December 18, 2021
