Ohio State
11-4-1, 4-2-0
Penn State
6-9-0, 0-8-0
No. 17/16 Buckeyes Down Penn State, 4-2, to Complete Sweep
12/6/2024 10:57:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Ohio State now 11-4-1 on the year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman Jake Rozzi's third-period goal led the No. 17/16 Ohio State men's hockey team to a 4-2 victory over Penn State Friday in Value City Arena.
The Buckeyes scored twice on the power play in the first period for a 2-0 lead but the Nittany Lions converted their own chance with the man advantage for a 2-1 game through 20 minutes. Neither team scored in the second and Penn State tied the game less than two minutes into the third. Rozzi's tally at 13:06 put Ohio State back ahead and Max Montes sealed the win with an empty net goal.
The win gives the Buckeyes, now 11-4-1 on the year, with a 4-2-0 1-0-0 Big Ten ledger, a sweep of the Nittany Lions (6-9-0, 0-8-0 0-1-0 B1G). Ohio State shut out Penn State, 4-0, Thursday.
The Short Story
On a major power play in the first period, the Buckeyes' Damien Carfagna tallied at 8:29 and Riley Thompson scored a 5-on-3 goal at 11:38. Penn State scored on a major opportunity at 14:48 for a 2-1 Ohio State lead through 20 minutes. There were no goals scored in the second and the Nittany Lions tied the game 1:44 into the third. At 13:06, Buckeye Joe Dunlap set up Jake Rozzi for the go-ahead score. The Buckeyes killed a late power play chance to maintain the lead and Max Montes clinched the win with an empty net goal at 18:40.
Kristoffer Eberly made 27 saves in the Buckeye net and Ohio State was 3-for-4 on the penalty kill in the game, going 2-for-6 on the power play. Aiden Hansen-Bukata had a team-high three assists and points and Dunlap had two helpers.
The Schedule Ahead
- Notre Dame comes to Columbus next Friday and Saturday, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. each night in Value City Arena. The annual Teddy Bear Toss will be held during game one, with fans invited to bring a stuffed animal to donate. Game two is the Holiday Game, with fun activations throughout the night.
- Single game, miniplan and group tickets are all available now. Ticket information and purchasing options are online and fans can also contact the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GOBUCKS (select Option 2, then Option 2) or Athletic.tix@osu.edu. Customer service representatives are available via phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Parking is free for all men's hockey home games.
How it Happened
- In the first period, the Buckeyes took advantage of a major power play for a 2-0 lead.
- At 8:29 Damien Carfagna's shot from the point went off the goalie and in to open the scoring. His shot was off a pass from Aiden Hansen-Bukata, with Davis Burnside on the second helper.
- A second Penn State penalty put the Buckeyes on a 5-on-3 chance. Riley Thompson tipped a shot from Gunnarwolfe Fontaine at 11:38 for a 2-0 Buckeye lead. Hansen-Bukata had his second assist of the game on the goal.
- Penn State had its own major chance later in the period and got on the board, with Dylan Lugris converting at 14:48.
- Shots were 14-10 in favor of the Buckeyes in the opening 20 minutes. Ohio State had four power play chances in the period, Penn State two.
- Neither team scored in the second period, with Penn State ahead in shots on goal, 12-9. Each team had one power play chance in the stanza and another Buckeye chance carried into the third.
- Soon after the Buckeye power play expired early in the third, the Nittany Lions' Tyler Paquette scored on a 2-on-1 with Aiden Fink to tie the game at two at 1:44.
- The score remained tied until 13:06 when freshman Jake Rozzi put the Buckeyes ahead. Joe Dunlap picked up the puck in the Buckeye zone and raced ahead on a 2-on-1. He found Rozzi in the high slot and his shot went five-hole for a 3-2 Buckeye lead. Hansen-Bukata made a play on a Penn State shot for the second assist on the goal, his third helper of the night.
- Penn State had a power play chance at 16:13 and the Nittany Lions then pulled their goalie at 17:02 for a 6-on-4 advantage. A save from goalie Kristoffer Eberly and a block by Thompson helped keep the Buckeyes in the lead during the power play.
- With the Penn State net still empty, Nathan McBrayer was able to clear the puck to Dunlap just outside the Ohio State zone. He set up Max Montes with a cross ice pass and his shot from outside the blue line found the back of the net at 18:40 for a 4-2 Ohio State lead.
- Neither team had a shot the rest of the way.
- In the third, the Buckeyes outshot the Nittany Lions, 10-7, and Ohio State ended the game ahead, 33-29.
- Eberly made 27 saves in all 60 minutes for the Buckeyes and John Seifarth made 29 stops in 58:22 for Penn State.
- Ohio State blocked 14 Penn State shot attempts, led by Brent Johnson, McBrayer and Hansen-Bukata with two each.
- The Buckeyes were 2-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Noting the Buckeyes
- Eberly, who started both games in a series for the first time this season, has a 1.44 goals-against average and .941 save percentage, with a 7-1-0 record.
- Hansen-Bukata had his fifth collegiate three-assist and three-point game and his first as a Buckeye. He is tied for second on the team with 15 points and has a team-best 14 assists.
- Dunlap had his third career two-assist game and his second of the season. He has a 3-8-11 line this year.
- Thompson leads the Buckeyes with 16 points, tying for second with six goals.
- Montes is first on the squad with eight goals this year.
- Burnside (6g, 8a) and Carfagna (5g, 9a) are tied for third on the team in scoring with 14 points each.
- Ohio State is averaging 3.31 goals per game, allowing 2.06 per night.
Coach Rohlik and goalie Kristoffer Eberly - who allowed two goals on 51 shots in the sweep of Penn State - spoke following tonight's win.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/h1Rs96uDLj
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) December 7, 2024
Riley Thompson breaks down the Buckeyes' 4-2 win and series sweep over Penn State with Aiden Hansen-Bukata and Nate McBrayer ?? #B1GHockey x @OhioStateMHKY pic.twitter.com/vClGgMRQ8e
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) December 7, 2024
