Key Games on Tap for Ohio State Hockey Teams

Hello, hockey fans. It’s a big week for both the men’s and women’s squads here in Buckeyeland. The guys seek redemption in their final regular season series against the mitten weasels. We begin, though, with the ladies. They face a road series at No. 9 Minnesota-Duluth which will close out their regular season and determine their conference playoff seed.

Women

I thought home ice might be out of the Buckeyes’ reach by the regular season finale, but a strong finish by the Scarlet and Gray along with a rough patch for UMD means a wild final weekend in the WCHA. Here’s what OSU needs in order to secure a top four seed. (I think. I’m rubbish at math.)

Bemidji State cannot earn a full six points. If the Beavers somehow manage to sweep Minnesota then the Bucks will be a road team regardless of their results against Duluth. Otherwise, OSU only needs to tie BSU’s final point total. Ohio State would win the first tiebreaker, head-to-head competition, by virtue of their season sweep of Bemidji.

Ohio State also needs at least a win and a tie against Duluth. Topping Bemidji means nothing unless the Bucks also best the Bulldogs. A win and tie by OSU would mean each team finishes with 44 total points.

The first tiebreaker is a wash. Both teams would be 1-1-2. (Shootout results do not figure in tiebreakers.) The next comparison is number of WCHA victories, which the Buckeyes would win, 13-12 by virtue of their theoretical win this week.

Wherever the Buckeyes’ first round series is located there’s a very good chance it will be played against these same Bulldogs. This series may well be a postseason preview. It also ought to be some fantastically entertaining hockey.

Games between the ladies from Ohio State and Duluth are usually closely, passionately contested and there’s a lot on the line this week besides the thrill of victory. The lady Bucks are playing well. I think they’ll take points out of the series. Whether it will be enough points remains to be seen.

UMD is always a tough team and the Bulldogs have some extra incentives this week. In addition to jockeying for playoff seeding, they’re looking to send their seniors and coach Shannon Miller out with a bang. Games are set for tonight at 7pm ET and Sunday at 12pm ET. Online video is available from NCHC TV.

Other notes...

• Heading into the season finale your Buckeye point leaders are: Claudia Kepler (11-11--22), Taylor Kuehl (10-12--21), Kari Schmitt (5-15--20), and Sara Schmitt (4-16--20)
• And between the pipes: Stacy Danczak (1.59, .926) and Kassidy Sauve (1.99, .923)

Conference Outlook 

Two conference playoff series are set. Top-seeded Minnesota will host Minnesota State and regular season runner-up Wisconsin hosts St. Cloud. All North Dakota needs to lock up a top-four finish is one point against MSU, which you have to figure they’ll get.  

Men

Every week when I sit down to write these previews I sort through the stats and series history deciding what facts I ought to remind you of and which I think you’ll remember without any help from your friendly neighborhood hockey scribe.

This week it was an easy call. I don’t think Buckeye fans have forgotten a single moment of Ohio State’s season series against Michigan. There are probably large chunks you’d actually prefer to forget.

In case you need a refresher (or you’re some kind of sports masochist), the Bucks have squared off against Michigan twice this season. The Wolverines smoked OSU in both games, winning 8-3 back in December and 10-6 last month.

Since then Michigan has climbed back into the national polls. They come in at No. 15, down a few spots after being swept by Minnesota last week. Zach Hyman (16-21--37, FLA) and Dylan Larkin (10-22--32, DET) are still two of the most prolific scorers team. Zach Nagelvoort (2.65, .908, EDM) still only has to keep the score under four to have a shot at picking up a win.

Not much has changed with the Buckeyes either. Ohio State is still structurally shaky. The team has continued its cycle of struggles. The Bucks improve in certain aspects of their game, but are unable to retain that improvement as they try to shore up other areas of concern. There is no good reason for this.

The team is at least healthier now. The recent return of players like Chad Niddery and Darik Angeli should make a difference along the walls and in front of the net. They aren't a magic band-aid for the Bucks' ills, but they are veteran irritants who have proven willing to earn hazard pay in the dirty areas of the rink.

I expect OSU to be highly motivated. It can’t sit well to get repeatedly torched by any team, more so when that team is Michigan. I’m pretty sure the effort will be there. I’m less certain of the execution, but I am cautiously optimistic that this weekend won't be embarrassing.

This series is a home-and-home affair. OSU hosts its half tonight at 7pm. Read about this week’s arena promos here. The game is not televised. You’ll have to follow online via BTN2Go or over the radio at 1460 AM. The series moves to Ann Arbor on Sunday at 5pm. That tilt will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit and SportsTime Ohio and at the Scarlet Liners’ watch party. 

Other notes...

• Nick Schilkey’s goal against Wisconsin made the NCAA’s top 5 plays of the week. 

Conference Outlook

It's awfully tight at the top. The Gophers and Nittany Lions are tonight's 6:30 pm game on BTN. Spartans and Badgers are the nightcap at 9pm.