Could not have asked for more of a letdown from this team than that performance. All credit to Virginia. After allowing Ohio State to close the gap to 5-4, the Cavs went on a 12-2 run to end the game and obliterate the Buckeyes.

Yes, there are significant injuries. But this is inexcusable. Absolutely. Inexcusable. If this is the kind of effort Ohio State is going to put out in their biggest game of the year, this could be an ugly season.

Are Virginia's players much more talented than Ohio State's? Absolutely. Is that any reason to get smoked by 12 goals? Absolutely not.

Overall, outside of one player, Ohio State matched up okay defensively. The problem was that Payton Cormier went unconscious and scored 7 goals on 12 shots. That's going to crush you. Add to that the fact that the offense, again, sputtered in the big game, and you have a recipe for a drubbing.

Ohio State couldn't get any shots off to start and end the game, with a -15 shot differential combined in the 1st and 4th quarters. That's DESPITE winning the faceoff battle overall. Just an absolutely flabbergasting stat.

Ohio State got smoked because they couldn't stop every stud that Virginia has. It's clear the Buckeyes don't have the horses to hang with the thoroughbreds. I don't know why Jack Myers initiates so much. That's not his bag. He needs to be used as the pivot, not the dodger.

Ed Shean was 2/2 on shots today. Myers was 2/10, and Kyle Borda went 0/8. Borda is an offball guy, Myers is meant to slice open defenses off of someone else's dodge. Jack Myers is not Chris Gray. The staff refuses to see that, for some reason. He needs to play off someone. Ari Allen is hurt, and Ed Shean doesn't see the ball enough.

In goal, Skylar Wahlund made 12 saves. After getting absolutely shellacked, it's hard to really fault him for what occurred. The offense let the team down again. Full stop.

There's not a lot of time to regroup. Next up is Cornell, who has dominated Ohio State. Probably not going to be a rosy preview next week.

One thing to note, Johnny Maccarone saw his first action today. After being hurt all fall, that's notable because he has real scoring potential. If the staff will allow him to do it.

Have to be better next week.

Go Bucks.