No. 8 Buckeyes Fall at No. 6 Michigan, 4-2

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 8 Ohio State men’s hockey team lost a Big Ten game to No. 6 Michigan, 4-2, Saturday in Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich. The teams split the weekend after a 7-2 Ohio State victory Friday.

The Buckeyes opened the scoring just 18 seconds into the game, but the Wolverines led 2-1 at the first intermission and scored the only goal of the second for a 3-1 advantage. Ohio State made it a one-goal game midway through the third but the Wolverines sealed the win with a late power play goal. Ohio State had the shot advantage, 39-27, but was unable to score on its four power play chances.

Ohio State, which had its six-game winning streak end, is 15-8-1 on the year and 8-6-0-0-0-0 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines are 13-8-1, with a 5-7-0-1-1-0 B1G ledger.

Next Up

The Buckeyes will travel to Madison, Wis., for games against Wisconsin Friday and Saturday. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET each night, with the games televised by Bally Sports Wisconsin and carried on Bally Sports Great Lakes, as well as Ohio State Radio.

Ohio State will be off the following week before hosting Penn State Feb. 3-4 in Value City Arena. The teams will face off at 7 p.m. in game one and 6:30 in game two. Promotions

Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik

“We were not quite good enough tonight and lost the special teams battle. They made a big push and we weren’t able to match it. It’s back to work on Monday.”

The Short Story

Just 18 seconds into the game the Buckeyes opened the scoring. Pressure from Jake Wise caused the Wolverines to turn over the puck in their zone. Cam Thiesing gathered it and his backhand shot deflected off a Michigan defender at the side of the net and in.
Michigan tied the game at one when Mackie Samoskevich scored through a screen on the rush at 5:23.
The Wolverines took the lead at 14:22. Ohio State was on a major power play before a tripping call made it 4-on-4. Jacob Truscott gathered a rebound at the side of the net and scored in the 4×4 stretch.
The teams combined for 29 shots on goal in the first, with UM ahead, 16-13.
The lone goal of the second came from Michigan’s Gavin Brindley, as he tallied at 15:17 from in close.
Ohio State outshot the Wolverines in the second, 12-5. The Buckeyes started the second with 1:43 of power play time and had another chance in the stanza.
Mason Lohrei drew the Buckeyes within one, 3-2, nine minutes into the third period. Jake Wise set up Lohrei in the left circle for a one-timer and he converted for his first goal of the season. Thiesing had the second assist for a two-point night.
At 14:38 Michigan went on the power play and took advantage, adding an insurance goal from Rutger McGroarty at 16:04.
The Buckeyes again had the edge in shots, 14-6.
Ohio State ended the game leading in shots, 39-27. The Buckeyes blocked 12 Wolverine shot attempts. Scooter Brickey had three shot blocks, with Thiesing and Matt Cassidy blocking two each. Michigan had 18 recorded shot blocks.
On the power play, the Buckeyes were 0-for-4, with Michigan 1-for-2.

Buckeye This and That

Lohrei leads the Buckeyes with 18 assists and is third with 19 points after recording his first goal of the season.
Thiesing had a team-high two points, his 10th career multiple-point game in the Scarlet and Gray and his fourth this season. He leads the Buckeyes with 11 goals, adding three assists for 14 points.
Ohio State ended a streak of seven games in a row with at least three goals. The squad is scoring 3.71 goals a game.
The Buckeyes are 84-for-93 on the penalty kill (.895) this season, among the NCAA leaders.

Cam Thiesing got right to business with the aggressive goal 18 seconds in! 🥵 @OhioStateMHKY x @B1GHockey pic.twitter.com/RHkqhPgNqw

— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) January 14, 2023

UM 3, OSU 2 | 7:12 left | P3 | Media timeout

Shots are 34-22 OSU (9-1 in the third).

Mason Lohrei with the Buckeye tally this period, assisted by Wise and Thiesing⤵️#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/PNN17nabRr

— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) January 14, 2023