Buckeyes Score Late to Down Irish, 4-2

Friday, January 23

South Bend, Ind.

7 p.m.

Ohio State

8-12-1, 4-7-0

Notre Dame

4-18-1, 0-13-0

Ohio St.

Notre Dame

Buckeyes Score Late to Down Irish, 4-2

1/23/2026 10:03:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

Karabela tallies gamewinner; Hillebrandt makes 31 saves

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A power play goal from freshman Jake Karabela with under two minutes remaining lifted the Ohio State men's hockey team to a 4-2 win over Notre Dame Friday in Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind.

The Buckeyes led 2-0 after the first period and 2-1 through 40 minutes but Notre Dame tied the game midway through the third. Felix Caron set up the eventual Karabela gamewinner at 18:03 and Max Montes sealed the win with an empty net goal 20 seconds later. Rookie Sam Hillebrandt made 31 saves in the victory.

The Buckeyes (8-12-1, 4-7 B1G) and Irish (4-18-1, 0-13 B1G) will wrap up the weekend series at 5:05 p.m. Saturday in South Bend. The game will be streamed on Peacock and Ohio State Radio will carry the action.

The Short Story
Adam Eisele scored just 52 seconds into the game and Riley Thompson converted on the power play at 11:40 to double the Buckeye lead. Ohio State carried a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. The Irish notched the next two goals, scoring on the power play 6:55 into the second and at even strength at 9:40 of the third. On a late power play chance, Jake Karabela scored off a Felix Caron pass at 18:03 to break the deadlock and a Max Montes empty net goal put the Buckeyes up 4-2 at 18:23, with a shot from nearly 200 feet.

Freshman Sam Hillebrandt made 31 saves in the Buckeye net. Chris Able led Ohio State with two assists and points. The Buckeyes, who outshot the Irish 34-33, were 2-for-5 on the power play, with Notre Dame 1-for-4.

How it Happened

Adam Eisele finished a 2-on-1 rush with Jake Dunlap for a goal just 52 seconds into the contest. Chris Able started the play up ice for the second assist.
At 11:40, Riley Thompson scored from right in front on the power play for a 2-0 lead. Davis Burnside had the assist on the tally.
Shots were 14-10 in favor of the Buckeyes in the first.
The only goal of the second came from the Irish on the power play at 6:55. Notre Dame outshot the Buckeyes, 10-7, in the middle period.
In the third, Notre Dame's Cole Brown tied the game with a goal at 9:40, as a loose puck got through.
The Buckeyes had two power plays in the final eight minutes and were able to convert the second.
On a rush, Felix Caron passed from the right faceoff circle to the left, where Jake Karabela was able to one-time a shot past the Irish goalie at 18:03. Broten Sabo also assisted on the power play tally.
The Irish pulled their goalie on the next shift and Ohio State took advantage shortly after. Max Montes' shot from near the boards at the Buckeye goal line found the back of the net at 18:23. Able posted his second assist of the night on the score.
Each team had 13 shots on net in the third.
The Buckeyes had the edge in shots, 34-33, for the game. Sam Hillebrandt made 31 saves for Ohio State in all 60 minutes.
Ohio State blocked 11 shots, Notre Dame 13. Ethan Straky led the Buckeyes with two blocks.
The Buckeyes were 2-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill in the win.

Buckeye This and That

Davis Burnside now has 97 points as a Buckeye, with 45 goals and 52 assists. On the year, he has 17 points, with eight goals, to tie for second on the team in scoring. Burnside is on a six-game point streak (3g, 5a, 8p).
Jake Karabela leads the Buckeyes with 18 points, including a team-best 13 assists. He has two power play goals and two gamewinners. He had the overtime winner vs. Minnesota Dec. 6.
Chris Able had the first two-assist and multiple point game of his Buckeye career. He has five assists on the year.
Adam Eisele and Max Montes share the team goal lead with nine each. Montes is fourth on the team with 14 points and Eisele is fifth with 13.
Felix Caron has a 7-10-17 line on the year to tie for second on the team in points.
Broten Sabo leads the Buckeye blueliners with 11 points, including 10 assists.
Riley Thompson has 12 points, with seven goals and five assists. He is first on the team with five power play tallies.
Ohio State is 18-for-75 (.240) on the power play this year.