High Scores Expected as Hockey Bucks Renew Rivalry with No. 6 Michigan

Over the course of the next two weeks, as the men’s hockey Bucks wrap up their regular season schedule, Ohio State fans will have several chances to demonstrate that they don’t give a flying Fig Newton for the mitten-shaped state. OSU will trek to Michigan State next week. First, though, the Buckeyes prepare for a rematch against No. 6 Michigan.

When the teams last faced each other, back in January, they combined to score 24 goals in the two game series. The Bucks jumped out to a big lead in the opener, lost that lead, then had to rally to force overtime. Eventually OSU’s Dakota Joshua secured a shootout win.

Ohio State led in the second game as well. In fact, the Buckeyes held a two-goal advantage on two separate occasions. But the Wolverines came storming back with a five-goal third period to claim victory. 

Aside from the final scores, two of the bigger stories in that series were the noteworthy play of Mason Jobst and the postgame fracas in which Michigan’s Cutler Martin punched Buckeye forward Brendon Kearney in the head.

Not much has changed since that January series. Michigan still boasts the most lethal offense in the nation. Each member of the Wolverines’ top line - Kyle Connor, J.T. Compher, and Tyler Motte - is one of the NCAA's top 6 scorers. Connor leads all collegiate players with 54 points.

Ohio State’s offense does not lag far behind. While no OSU line has the ridiculous output of Connor, Compher, and Motte, the Bucks' offense does have a couple of trios clicking along at an impressive rate.

Over the course of the last three games John Wiitala, Mason Jobst, and Dave Gust have accounted for four goals and seven assists. The recently assembled group of Nick Schilkey, Matt Weis, and Freddy Gerard has been even more productive. In the same span they’ve posted seven goals and twelve assists.

Since their last meeting, neither squad has improved substantially in the goals-against department. Obviously, the school rivalry continues to simmer. I expect we will see more of the same this weekend: a lot of goals and bad blood.

The key to victory is clearly management of both those things. Given the chance, the power play units of Michigan (25.2%) and Ohio State (21.5%) will make their opponent pay for emotional mistakes. Goaltending is of paramount importance. Sound defensive basics are critical. If either team can be held to just three or four goals, it can be beaten.

Before you ask, no, I cannot fathom why these games aren’t on television. You’d think someone somewhere would’ve picked up this high-scoring, heated rivalry.

News and Notes

• Matt Tomkins has the most experience of any Buckeye goalie against Michigan. He has faced the Wolverines six times. Logan Davis has four appearances against them and Christian Frey, three.
• Michigan has outscored its opponents by a combined 59-22 in the third period this year.
• The Wolverines are 0-2-5 in overtime this season, including a tie (and shootout loss) against Ohio State.
• If you’re headed out to Sunday’s game, you might want to drop in to R Bar for The Scarlet Liners’ pregame tailgate.

Around the Conference

Four games (and 12 potential points) remain in 2015-16. While not mathematically set, it’s more than likely that the Big Ten teams will finish in the same order in which they currently stand. Minnesota and Michigan switching places for the regular season title is certainly possible, so is a swap between Ohio State and Michigan State.

Either way the first round of the B1G tournament would look the same. The Buckeyes would face the Spartans and the Nittany Lions would take on the Badgers with the winners advancing to semifinal match ups against bye-winners Wolverines and Gophers.