As you read this it has been 1,323 days since Ohio State defeated Miami on the ice. Since March 1, 2013 the RedHawks have prevailed in the teams’ last seven battles. The rivalry has been far too one-sided for far too long. However, that might be about to change.
| game info | sat |
|---|---|
| Opening Faceoff | 8pm ET |
| Television | n/a |
| Radio | Scarlet and Gray Sports |
| Online | NCHC.tv ($) |
The No. 15/19 Buckeyes take their 1-0-1 record to Oxford on Saturday for the first half of a home-and-home series against their old nemesis. (The OSU-hosted half of the series takes place on New Year’s Eve.) The 1-1-0 RedHawks aren’t exactly stumbling into Saturday’s game, but for the first time in a long while (at least to this writer’s recollection) they aren’t the clear favorite either.
Miami welcomes a whopping 14 freshmen to the roster this season. Rookies will compete for many positions but none more important than the starting goaltender slot. Standout senior netminders Ryan McKay and Jay Williams have moved on. Sophomore Evan McCarthy is sidelined for the 2016-17 season with hip surgery. So far newbie Ryan Larkin is competently holding down the fort.
In spite of the challenges inherent with such a youthful squad, the team is projected to equal last year’s fifth place NCHC conference finish. Miami began its season with a series split against No. 10 Providence. The Friars claimed the first game 4-3. The RedHawks edged them 2-1 in the second tilt.
| around the big ten |
|---|
| US U-18 vs No. 8/9 Minnesota (ex) |
| No. 13 Michigan vs Ferris State |
| Michigan State vs Lake Superior State |
| Penn State vs Mercyhurst |
| No. 6 Boston College vs Wisconsin |
All of Miami’s goals in that series were scored on the power play. The RedHawks were 5-for-20 in the series. Reining in the undisciplined play that plagued its last outing will be important for Ohio State this weekend.
If the Buckeyes can keep out of the penalty box (a big if) I think they have an excellent chance to reset that rivalry clock. I’m not dumb enough to guarantee a win in a rivalry game. However I can say with some certainty that the outlook for an Ohio State victory is better than it’s been in a long time.
Did you know?
The last time the Buckeye men cracked the national rankings was in October of 2014. Their next opponent was the Miami RedHawks who swept the series and knocked OSU right back out of the rankings.
Women Prepare for No. 8 Bemidji State
Ohio State continues its murder’s row start to WCHA schedule (four top-10 teams to open conference play) with a trip to No. 8 Bemidji State. The Beavers present a strong defensive challenge for the Bucks. However they do have one weakness which may open the door for an OSU upset.
| game info | fri | sat |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Faceoff | 4pm ET | 4pm ET |
| Television | n/a | n/a |
| Radio | Beaver Radio | Beaver Radio |
| Online | via BSU ($) | via BSU ($) |
Bemidji State ices one of the league's toughest defenses in front of stellar senior goalie Brittni Mowat. Last week the Beavers shut No. 2/3 Minnesota out to earn a split of their conference opening series.
Mowat has been a fixture in the BSU net since her debut as a freshman in 2013. In her sophomore and junior years she posted identical 1.68 GAAs. In three games so far this season Mowat has surrendered just four goals.
So where's the chink in the Beavers' armor? Bemidji’s offense is as ho hum as their defense is impressive. During Mowat’s career BSU has never averaged more than 2.00 goals scored per conference game.
| other wcha series |
|---|
| No. 1 Wisconsin vs No. 7 Clarkson (nc) |
| No. 4/8 Minnesota-Duluth vs No. 2/3 Minnesota |
| Minnesota State vs No. 10 North Dakota |
| St. Cloud State has a bye |
Statistically the numbers add up to a low-scoring, closely contested series between Ohio State and Bemidji. Both teams are netting roughly two goals per game while giving up only one. Both squads are coming off unexpectedly good results against the nation’s top teams. Both have red hot goaltending.
I think OSU is going to have a chance in both games this week. Close games generally come down to the special teams battle so steering clear of the box will also be important for the Buckeye women. A split would be excellent, but just chipping away another few conference points would be a good result.
Did you know?
Although they couldn't quite hang on for a victory, the Buckeye women's performance against No. 1 Wisconsin sufficiently impressed one voter in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll. Ohio State is the final team also receiving votes in those rankings.
