Hockey Bucks Seek Conference Points as Season Enters Home Stretch

Hey, puckheads! Happy game day, once again. We're entering the final months of the college hockey season. If the Buckeyes want to improve their standing for the conference tournaments, the time for winning is now.

Men

This week’s Michigan State series marks the halfway point of the Big Ten season. While Ohio State isn’t mathematically out of race for a first round B1G tourney bye, or even the regular season title, the Buckeyes haven't helped their cause by leaving points on the board in recent weeks.

In order to move up the Bucks need points in bunches. This week they have a primo points opportunity with a home series against the conference’s last place team. Ohio State has been good in its own building this year (4-4-1) while the Spartans are having an all around disastrous season.

Michigan State was supposed to be one of the few known quantities in the Big Ten this year. For several seasons now the Spartans’ season has played out the same way. Goal scoring was a challenge, but for the most part solid defense, committed shot blocking, and quality goaltending kept MSU competitive.

In 2015-16 the Spartans still can’t find the back of the net. Making matters worse, now they’re also struggling in their own end. Michigan State has eight Big Ten games under its belt this season. The team allowed three or more goals in each outing.  

MSU was victorious in only one of those contests, beating Wisconsin 4-3. The win came, as all of its triumphs have, in the friendly confines of Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans are 0-9-0 on the road.

One of the most glaring troubles in the team’s faltering defense (and one of the most baffling) is the play of All-American goaltender Jake Hildebrand. After averaging 2.32/.927 over his first three collegiate seasons, the senior is a mystifyingly awful 3.39/.894 this year. His GAA in Big Ten games is a conference-worst 4.70.

Though a lack of defense isn’t a death sentence in this year’s Big Ten, lack of scoring is fatal. And, although the Spartans’ overall scoring is up infinitesimally from last season, they fall well short of the competitive mark in the conference. MSU averages just 1.88 goals per B1G contest.

All signs seem to indicate a successful week for the Buckeyes. I do think they ought to take the majority of the points from the series, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Those precious conference points won’t come easily.

Michigan State possesses some skilled players (including five NHL prospects). And, stats aside, Hildebrand is one heck of a goaltender. The visitors are also an experienced squad with ten seniors and six juniors. The Spartans know what it takes to win, even if they aren’t making a practical application of that knowledge.

News and Notes

• Ohio State will be without the services of defenseman Josh Healey in this series as he serves a two game suspension. 
• Buckeye forward Dave Gust has recorded points in 11 consecutive games.
• Michigan State’s Travis Walsh (76) leads the nation in blocked shots. Teammate Carson Gatt (57) is also in among the top 10. Ohio State’s Drew Brevig (66) is tied for third most blocks. 

Around the Conference 

Michigan defeated Penn State 7-4 at Pegula Arena last night. The teams conclude their series on Saturday at Madison Square Garden as part of the Big Ten’s inaugural Super Saturday hockey and basketball doubleheader. That game airs live on BTN at 7pm.

(For what it’s worth, Ohio State hockey is slated to play Wisconsin at MSG in 2017, but it isn’t a straight Buckeye-Badger match up. The basketball portion of the doubleheader doesn’t include OSU. Because reasons, I guess.)

In non-conference action this week Wisconsin hosts Alaska. Minnesota welcomes fellow North Star Cup combatants Bemidji State, Minnesota State, and St. Cloud State.

Women

The Buckeye hockey women are at Minnesota-Duluth this week to renew their rivalry with the Bulldogs. Ohio State’s chances of climbing the WCHA standings are slim. The team’s road out is paved with top-10 opponents.

However, if the Bucks are going to take a stab at sixth place, this series is the perfect opportunity to gain some ground. UMD sits in that spot, five points above OSU in the conference. A great outing by the Scarlet and Gray this week could boost the team up to Duluth’s spot.

Heading into the series, the momentum is clearly with Ohio State. Since the break (other than one bad outing against No. 3 Minnesota) the Buckeye defense is holding opponents to three or fewer goals per game. The team’s struggling offense broke out in last week’s series at Minnesota State, racking up eight goals. It was OSU’s best result in months.

Duluth, on the other hand, is mired in a six game slump. The Bulldogs haven’t won a game since they beat OSU back in December. They came close two weeks ago with a pair of one-goal tilts against No. 8 North Dakota, but fell short each time.

Ohio State vs. Minnesota-Duluth is always a hard fought series. It’s also usually a closely contested one. In recent meetings UMD has been the team mustering the late game energy needed for victory. If the Buckeyes are the ones to tap into those reserves this week, then it could be a profitable road trip for the Scarlet and Gray.