Hockey Preps for No. 6 Michigan, St. Cloud

Merry Friday and a happy game day to you, puck fans. Ohio State men’s hockey has a huge series on tap this week, skating a home-and-home series against Big Ten leading Michigan. (Also the schools may not be super fond of one another.) The women’s team is in town as well, looking for some payback against Molly Illikainen and St. Cloud State.

Men

Tonight the Buckeye men skate on home ice for the first time in two months. The stakes are high as the Big Ten's top team comes to town. That's right. It's Michigan week for hockey.

The Wolverines sit atop the conference standings and are ranked No. 6 in both national polls. They boast twelve NHL draft picks, including Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Zach Werenski. He and teammate Kyle Connor are the only first round selections currently playing in the B1G.

So it probably comes as no surprise that Michigan possesses the No. 1 offense in the nation. The Wolverines are quick on their skates, crisp and accurate with their passes, and skilled enough to exploit the tiniest glimpse of twine. They are also not shy about crashing the net or delivering a big hit.

If the visitors have a weakness it’s in goal. After splitting starts with Zach Nagelvoort in the first half of the season, Steve Racine has claimed the starter’s spot since the break. The senior is not a bad goaltender but he is a reboundy one. Generally, the Michigan defense does a good enough job of directing traffic and tying up sticks that only a manageable number of those bouncing pucks end up in the back of the net.

Michigan is not unbeatable but they are one of the best teams Ohio State will see this year. The Buckeyes need to find a way to slow the Wolverine attack. A physical game, similar to the one they employed against Boston College, might do the trick.

The Bucks must keep on the good side of the whistles, though. Michigan runs a deadly 27.8% power play. Overzealous checks or boiling tempers by OSU play to the Wolverines' strengths.

The Buckeyes come into this series undefeated since the holiday break. (Technically; their most recent result, a tie and shootout loss at Wisconsin, had more than a whiff of failure about it.) However it’s unlikely that record will survive this series. I think a split would be a good outcome for Ohio State. Any points garnered this weekend are a victory.  

Noteworthy

• The Big Ten’s top three overall scorers are Wolverines: Kyle Connor (15-16--31), J.T. Compher (5-22--27), and Tyler Motte (14-7--21).
• Ohio State actually has more wins (2) against top 10 teams than Michigan (1).
• Tonight’s game is a “Scarlet Out.” All attending fans are encouraged to wear red.

Around the Conference

This week Wisconsin looks to build on its recent momentum while visiting Penn State. Tonight’s Badgers-Nittany Lions game is on BTN at 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s tilt airs on ESPNU at 6pm.

In the other series, beleaguered Michigan State travels to Minnesota. Fox Sports Detroit and SportsTime Ohio are scheduled to carry tonight’s contest at 9pm. BTN covers Saturday’s series finale at 7:30 p.m. 

Women

The Buckeye women also return home after a trip to the Upper Midwest. Ohio State was swept at No. 3 Minnesota in its last outing, although the Bucks did keep the score close in the series opener. Now they face a pair of games against St. Cloud State in the friendly confines of the Ice Rink.

These teams last met in November. Then, the Huskies’ leading scorer Molly Illikainen did a number on the Scarlet and Gray. She registered two goals and two assists en route to a St. Cloud sweep of Ohio State. 

The Huskies skated their first post-break games last week against Minnesota State. Both contests went extra time as St. Cloud posted a shootout victory and an overtime win over MSU. Katie Fitzgerald was in net for both games, stopping 55 of 59 shots in the series.

Expect a couple of close, fairly low-scoring games this week. Neither squad excels at special teams so whichever side manages to win that battle may well be the series victor. My spidey senses are saying it’s a split.

Noteworthy

• Promotions for this week’s games include a postgame meet-and-greet with coach Jenny Potter on Friday and a Teddy Bear Toss and postgame skate on Saturday.