No. 14 Buckeyes Down Badgers 3-1 in B1G and Home Opener
Teams will close weekend series at 5 p.m. Saturday
COLUMBUS, Ohio – With a goal in each period, and two points each from Patrick Guzzo and Jaedon Leslie, the No. 14 Ohio State men’s hockey team skated to a 3-1 win over Wisconsin Friday in Value City Arena. The game was the Buckeyes’ home opener and the first Big Ten contest for both squads.
The Buckeyes, now 3-0-0 on the year, and Badgers (0-1-0) will face off at 5 p.m. Saturday in Columbus. Season, single-game and group tickets and mini plans are all on sale now, with more information HERE. Parking is free for all home games in VCA.
The Short Story
Ohio State scored at 13:11 of the first and 6:27 of the second for a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes Patrick Guzzo and Jaedon Leslie notched the first two goals, respectively, with the first assist on the other’s tally. In the third, freshman Stephen Halliday recorded his first goal in the Scarlet and Gray, converting a 5-on-3 chance. The Badgers broke up the shutout less than two minutes later and skated with their net empty for the final two-plus minutes but the Buckeyes closed out the win. Ohio State outshot Wisconsin, 45-30, was 1-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
“The biggest thing is if you can get the lead. At any level, and especially in this league, if you can get the lead teams start to press a little bit. It was nice to get the lead.”
Quoting senior Jaedon Leslie
“Any time you can play in a Big Ten game it’s just a whole different level. We had to come in with the mindset knowing we had a Big Ten game early on this year. Practice habits throughout the week, trying to be dialed up and doing the right things. There’s lots we can still clean up. But it felt good to get that first Big Ten game out of the way.”
How It Happened
- The Buckeyes opened the scoring at 13:11 of the first period. After a faceoff in the Badger zone, Joe Dunlap forced a turnover by the Badger net and the puck went to Jaedon Leslie. He found Patrick Guzzo and his backhander went in for his second goal of the year.
- The lone goal of the second period was a highlight-reel tally from Leslie at 6:27. Kamil Sadlocha and Guzzo carried through the neutral zone and the puck got to Leslie in the high slot. He spun one way and then back, putting a shot past the goalie’s blocker.
- Freshman Stephen Halliday made it a 3-0 Buckeye lead at 15:30 with a 5-on-3 power play goal, his first collegiate tally. In the faceoff circle, he one-timed a pass from Travis Treloar. Mason Lohrei had the second assist on the goal. The power play chance was part of a five-minute major.
- The Badgers broke up the shutout at 16:48 on a goal from Cruz Lucius right in front.
- Wisconsin pulled its goalie with more than two minutes remaining. A blocked shot by Jake Wise and three saves from Jakub Dobes helped close out the win.
- The Buckeyes outshot the Badgers, 45-30, with at least 14 shots on goal in each period. Cole McWard, Lohrei and CJ Regula each had two blocked shots to lead Ohio State. Wisconsin blocked 22 Ohio State shot attempts.
- The Buckeyes were 1-for-6 on the power play and the penalty kill was 3-for-3. Ohio State started the game a man down after it was assessed a delay of game penalty for not leaving the ice at the horn to end warmups.
Buckeye This and That
- Leslie marked his second career multiple-point game and first since a three-assist, four-point day vs. Arizona State March 4, 2021.
- Guzzo had his third career two-point day and first since Jan. 1 vs. LIU.
- Ohio State is 13-for-13 on the penalty kill this season and 3-for-15 on the power play.
- Halliday is the second Buckeye freshman to score this season, joining Davis Burnside who scored Ohio State’s first goal of the season. Halliday had an assist in the second game vs. Mercyhurst.
- Treloar leads the Buckeyes with four assists and five points and has at least one point in each of the first three games.
- Guzzo is the first Buckeye with two goals this year.
- Ohio State has at least 44 shots on goal in each game so far this season.