No. 16/15 Buckeyes Secure Split with 4-2 Win over No. 12 UConn

Saturday, October 18

Hartford, Conn.

4 p.m.

Ohio State

3-1-0

UConn

2-2-0

Ohio St.

UConn

No. 16/15 Buckeyes Secure Split with 4-2 Win over No. 12 UConn

10/18/2025 7:36:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Thompson scored gamewinner in third period

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 16/15 Ohio State men's hockey team is headed home with a series split after a 4-2 win at No. 12 UConn Saturday in Hartford, Conn. Ohio State improves to 3-1 on the year, with UConn, which won 3-2 Friday, 2-2. After a scoreless first, the Buckeyes led 2-1 entering the third. Just 17 seconds after UConn tied the game, Buckeye Riley Thompson put Ohio State back ahead and an empty net goal sealed the win.

Up Next
The Buckeyes return to Columbus for a four-game homestand, taking on Sacred Heart Oct. 24-25 and No. 6 Penn State Oct. 30-31. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., for game one and two respectively, vs, the Pioneers and both games vs. Penn State will be at 6:30 p.m.

Season tickets, Power Play mini plans, group tickets and single game tickets are all available now. Ticket Information

Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
"This was a much better result, which was helped by playing consistently from start to finish. Special teams were important in the game and the penalty kill did its job for the most part. It was a good win on the road."

The Short Story
There were no goals in the first period and UConn opened the scoring just 35 seconds into the second on a power play goal. Max Montes tied the game at one at 5:03 and Jake Dunlap put the Buckeyes ahead at 17:06. Ohio State held its one-goal edge until the Huskies tallied at 14:18 of the third. But just 17 seconds later, Riley Thompson moved the Buckeyes back ahead. A late penalty kill by Ohio State helped close out the win and James Hong sealed the victory with an empty net goal.

Ryan Gordon had a team-best two assists and he and Hong each had two points for the Buckeyes. Kristoffer Eberly had 34 saves, including 16 in the third period for Ohio State, which was 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
Kristoffer Eberly had 34 saves, including 16 in the third period for Ohio State, which was 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.

How it Happened

Neither team scored in the first period, with UConn ahead in shots, 9-7. The Buckeyes killed three power play chances, with a fourth chance carrying over.
The Huskies took advantage of the power play to start the second, with Joey Muldowney scoring just 35 seconds into the stanza.
Ohio State scored twice before the end of the period for a 2-1 lead.
Max Montes notched his second of the series at 5:03 to tie the game, with a wrist shot from the point getting through. James Hong and Jake Rozzi assisted on the goal, which came six seconds after a Buckeye power play expired.
Jake Dunlap put the Buckeyes ahead for the first time in the series at 17:06. Niall Crocker sent Dunlap up the right wing and he scored on the fly. Ryan Gordon had the second assist on the goal, Dunlap's first of the year.
The Buckeyes outshot the Huskies, 13-10, in the middle period and also hit the post twice.
Ohio State maintained its one-goal lead until UConn's Ryan Tattle scored at 14:18 of the third.
Just 17 seconds later, Riley Thompson moved the Buckeyes back ahead, winning a faceoff and scoring from in close.
The Buckeyes killed a late power play that turned to a 6-on-4 advantage with an empty net, to hold the one-goal lead.
Gordon found Davis Burnside leaving the Buckeye zone, leading to a 2-on-0 with James Hong, who had just left the penalty box. Burnside set up his teammate for an empty net goal to seal the win at 18:46.
Buckeye goalie Kristoffer Eberly had 16 saves in the third, as the Buckeyes were outshot, 17-10.
Eberly ended the game with 34 saves and UConn's Hendrickson made 26 stops in 59:31. The Huskies had the advantage in shots, 36-30, for the game.
Ohio State had 11 shot blocks and UConn blocked 17 Ohio State attempts. Ethan Straky and Nathan Lewis were first for the Buckeyes with two each.
The Buckeye penalty kill was 4-for-5 and the power play was 0-for-2.

Noting the Buckeyes

Niall Crocker made his collegiate debut and picked up his first point with an assist.
The power play goal allowed in the second period was the first this season for the Buckeyes. The squad is 12-for-13 on the penalty kill this year.
Max Montes and Riley Thompson both scored in each game at UConn. They share the team goal lead with three each and are tied for second in points with four.
Ryan Gordon had his first career two-assist night and his second two-point game as a Buckeye.
James Hong now has three two-point outings at Ohio State.
Kristoffer Eberly has started all four games this year, with a 2.01 goals-against average and .923 save percentage.