No. 6 Buckeyes Complete Sweep with 3-1 Win over Badgers
Buckeyes extend winning streak to four, improve to 3-1-0 in B1G play
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 6-ranked Ohio State men’s hockey topped Wisconsin, 3-1, Saturday in Value City Arena for a sweep of the weekend series vs. the Badgers. The Buckeyes, on a four-game winning streak, are now 8-3-1 on the year and 3-1-0-0 in Big Ten play.
The Buckeyes defeated Wisconsin (5-7-0, 1-3-0-0 B1G) 4-0 Friday, marking their third shutout in a row. The Wisconsin goal in the third period Saturday ended the Buckeyes’ team shutout streak at a program-record 231:42. It passed the old record of 211:58, set from Oct. 27-Nov. 11, 2011.
Up Next
Ohio State wraps up its four-game homestand with two games vs. No. 5 Penn State next weekend. The teams will meet at 5 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday in Value City Arena.
The Buckeye Goals
- Freshman Quinn Preston opened the scoring Saturday at 4:58 of the first period with his first career tally. Sasha Larocque passed up to Dakota Joshua and he touch-passed it to Preston, who skated into the zone, went around a sliding Badger defenseman and scored low glove side.
- Junior defenseman Gordi Myer notched his first of the year at 18:12 of the opening stanza, converting on the power play. Joshua and Tanner Laczynski worked the puck to Myer, who scored short side from the faceoff circle.
- At 15:10 of the second senior Mason Jobst tallied his team-best seventh goal of the year, as he was able to get to a loose puck in front and put it over the out of position goalie. Gustaf Westlund and Laczynski assisted on the power play tally.
On the Defensive Side
- Tommy Nappier had 27 saves on 28 shots while playing all 60 minutes for the Buckeyes.
- Nappier is 4-1-1 on the year and ranks among the nation’s leaders with a 1.27 goals-against average and .958 save percentage this season.
- The Buckeyes blocked 10 shots, led by junior defenseman Gordi Myer with four for the second night in a row.
- Ohio State is allowing 1.83 goals per game this season, ranking in the Top 10 nationally.
- The squad has allowed three goals in the last six games combined, with four shutouts in the stretch. On the year, the team has held opponents to two or fewer goals in 10 of 12 games.
Special Teams
- Ohio State was 2-for-7 with the man advantage, scoring twice on the power play for the second game in a row. It was the team’s third game with multiple power play goals this year.
- The Buckeyes were 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. The Badgers’ third-period power play goal was the first allowed by Ohio State in six games.
Quoting Buckeye head coach Steve Rohlik
On improving each series
“Things aren’t going to look pretty at times so you need to put in hard work. We’ve been working hard on special teams and sometimes it works and other times it doesn’t. We just need to stick with it and I would like to credit our guys.”
On being 3-1 in the Big Ten
“Every win is big in this league. We know how hard is to win every night and weekend. Our league is tough and you have to cherish those nights when you can win and keep pushing forward.”
Buckeye This and That
- With two assists, Tanner Laczynski had two points for the fourth time this year and third time in the last four games. He is first on the team with 11 points this season, ranking second with six assists.
- Freshman Gustaf Westlund is first on the squad with seven assists, picking up his third of the weekend in the second period.
- Dakota Joshua had two assists for his second two-point night this season. He has a 3-5-8 line on the year.
- Mason Jobst has a team-high seven goals and ranks second with 10 points. He has 84 points in Big Ten games only, two back of the league record of 86 set by Minnesota’s Justin Kloos from 2013-17. Jobst owns the B1G record with 39 goals in conference games only.
- Ohio State was 44-18 on faceoffs vs. the Badgers, led by Jobst who was 17-2 and Joshua who was 13-5.
- The Buckeyes and Badgers will meet in Madison Feb. 8-9.