No. 11 Hockey Bucks Travel to Michigan for First Battle of 2016-17

This is a big week, puckheads. We get our first Buckeye-Wolverine throwdown of the season at Yost. Here in Columbus, Ohio State’s women face a battle for crucial conference points. Here’s what you need to know.

No. 11 Men at Michigan

Buckeye Brief

The Bucks suffered their worst result of the season last week, getting swept by Wisconsin. The injury/illness bug has bitten the team hard in recent weeks. Ohio State skated without Nick Schilkey, Drew Brevig, and Tommy Parran in the series against the Badgers. 

The Buckeyes may get a couple of those players back this week when they trek northward to face Michigan. Steve Rohlik upgraded Schilkey to day-to-day in his weekly meet with the media. Brevig is still out. While Rohlik didn’t specifically address Parran’s status, he did note the Bucks would be able to dress six defensemen for Friday’s game which suggests Parran is good enough to go. 

Know Your Enemy

The Wolverines were hit hard by early departures over the offseason. Their electrifying top line of Kyle Connor, J.T. Compher, and Tyler Motte departed en masse for pro leagues. Top defensemen Zach Werenski and Michael Downing joined them. (This in addition to the graduation of top six forwards Boo Nieves and Justin Selman and starting goaltender Steve Racine.)

Even with such significant losses, Michigan performed decently during the first half of the season, compiling a 7-6-1 record against better-than-average opponents. The Wolverines even pulled off a big 4-0 win over current No. 3 Boston University. However that non-conference success has not translated to their Big Ten campaign.

Michigan had a bye last week. The week prior the Wolverines were shut out by Michigan State. They then tied the Spartans and defeated them in a shootout, gaining a slim one point cushion over MSU and avoiding residence in the B1G cellar. The Wolverines are last or tied for last in the Big Ten in offense (2.00), defense (4.19), power play (10.71%), penalty kill (72.5%), and penalty minutes per game (18).

While it is unusual to see Michigan struggle, it’s hardly surprising given the team’s extreme youth. The Wolverines’ roster features 11 freshmen. Many players have been thrust into new and expanded roles with the option to sink or swim. Freshmen Jake Slater and Will Lockwood are two who are keeping their heads above water. They are the team’s first and second ranked point getters.

Another pair of freshmen, Hayden Lavigne and Jack Lafontaine, join veteran Zach Nagelvoort in a three-way race to become the team’s go-to guy in net. So far, it doesn’t seem to be a race any of them are winning. Each goalie has eight appearances this season. They are still rotating. All have seen action since the midseason break.  

Of course, at the end of the day, this is Ohio State and Michigan we’re talking about. Stats, trends, and past outcomes don’t really amount to a hill of beans. This week’s winner will most likely be the team that strikes the best balance between cool composure and heated rivalry.

Notables

• Mason Jobst is an absolute beast. The sophomore is averaging almost two points per conference game and has 19 points in his last 10 outings.
• Dakota Joshua has three goals and two assists (plus a shootout winner) in four career games against Michigan. Brendon Kearney and John Wiitala each own two goals and two assists over the same span.
• Ohio State will be sans suspended defenseman Josh Healey for Friday’s contest.
• The Wolverines may have to make do without leading goal scorer Tony Calderone, sidelined these past two games with an upper body injury.
• Don’t forget to cast your ballot for Nick Schilkey in the Vote for Hobey. (If you need a refresher on why he’s a deserving candidate click here.)  
• For complete PairWise rankings visit USCHO. 

Women vs. St. Cloud State

The Buckeye women are headed into the home stretch of 2016-17. Only six games remain in the regular season. While the squad isn’t in the mix for a top half finish it is locked in a three team battle for fifth place in the WCHA with St. Cloud State and Bemidji State.

Whichever member of this group prevails and claims fifth spot earns itself a trip to North Dakota for the first round of the conference tournament. The two loseres face much more difficult draws at Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth. (For reference over the coming weeks, the conference’s first four tiebreakers are, in order: head-to-head competition, most WCHA wins, fewest WCHA losses, and fewest goals against in head-to-head series.)

Ohio State has a golden opportunity to stake its claim as the best-of-the-rest as the Bucks welcome the Huskies to Columbus for a pair of games. St. Cloud and OSU split a series earlier this season with each side netting four goals. Both the Buckeyes and Huskies are hoping snap winless skids this week. It has been five games since OSU’s last victory and three since St. Cloud’s.

Both teams are also seeking a spark for their offense. Ohio State hasn’t mustered more than one goal in any of its last five games. The Huskies have been shut out four times in their last seven outings.

The Bucks haven’t been great at home but St. Cloud is a dreadful 2-8-1 on the road. OSU actually has a statistical advantage in every point of comparison on the Team Stats table. That’s no guarantee of victory but it is an unusual sight. I think Ohio State comes out on top this week.