Women’s Hockey Hosts Formidable Badger Squad in Penultimate Home Series

Hello again, hockey fans. We’re entering the home stretch of 2015-16. The men’s team has a bye this week before its final five week frenzy. Ohio State’s women are even closer to the finish line. They have just three series to go in the regular season. This week’s opponent is one tough customer.

Women

The Buckeye women have three series remaining in their 2015-16 regular season schedule. Ohio State sits seventh in the WCHA, a comfortable 14 points ahead of Minnesota State and still mathematically within reach of fifth place. With 18 points up for grabs in the coming weeks, the possibility exists for Ohio State to make a late move up the standings.

The benefits of improving just one position are substantial. The sixth place finisher will most likely face North Dakota or Bemidji State in the first round of the conference tournament. Seventh spot draws bad odds against Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they face a much tougher road out than the teams directly above them in the standings. The Bucks’ remaining slate features three of the conference’s top four teams. The challenge starts tonight with No. 2 Wisconsin.

The fact that the Badgers are not the No. 1 team in the nation is a bit mind-boggling. (To answer your inevitable question, top-ranked Boston College is still undefeated.) UW is slaying practically all comers. In 28 games the only blemish on Wisco’s record is a loss and a tie against No. 8 North Dakota back in December.

Wisconsin’s defense is the best in the nation and allows approximately one goal per series, which is ridonkulous. The Badgers’ defensive dominance extends to special teams as well. They’re No. 1 on the penalty kill, having surrendered just four power play goals in the entire season.

One reason the team is so effective on defense is that it’s backed by stellar goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens. The junior netminder makes Ebenezer Scrooge look magnanimous. In 26 appearances this season she has allowed a grand total of 16 goals.

Desbiens boasts almost as many shutouts (14) as total goals against. She’s given up multiple goals just three times this year. It’s no surprise that she ranks first in the NCAA in both GAA (0.62) and save percentage (.966).

It is going to be extremely difficult for the Bucks to crack this Badger squad. But, if there was ever was a time for Ohio State to pull off an upset, this is it. The Buckeyes are (apparently) healthier than they’ve been all season. With 20 goals in their last four games, they’re also more productive than they’ve been all year. Add a boost from the home town crowd and maybe the Scarlet and Gray can catch Wisconsin napping.

News and Notes

• Four Buckeyes carry four-game point streaks into this series: Julia McKinnon (3-6--9), Claudia Kepler (4-4--8), Dani Sadek (1-6--7), and Kendall Curtis (4-1--5).

Around the Conference

The races are becoming clearly defined. Wisconsin and Minnesota vie for the regular season crowm. North Dakota and Bemidji State will likely claim the other home ice spots for the WCHA tournament, though their order of finish is yet to be determined. The remaining four teams will have to go on the road for the first round of the conference tourney.

St. Cloud and Duluth are currently in position for the more favorable match ups. If Ohio State doesn’t want to face the Badgers or Gophers in the first round, the Buckeyes will probably need to win more than half their final games…which are all against the conference’s top teams. Yikes.

Men

The men’s hockey Bucks have a bye this week. The opportunity to regroup and return with renewed focus comes at a good time for the team. Ohio State’s tendency to leave points on the board showed itself again last week.

As a result the team sits six points behind third place Penn State, twelve back of conference co-leaders Minnesota and Michigan. The Buckeyes are not particularly well-positioned for a regular season championship push. It’s also unlikely they’ll earn second place and the other first round bye in the Big Ten tournament.

On the bright side, the team has made significant strides in the last month. OSU is performing much better in conference play than initially expected. A deep B1G tourney run is well within the realm of possibility.

In order for it to become a reality, Ohio State must sharpen its game over the next five weeks. The bones of the team are good. The Bucks have been generating offense and special teams are generally performing well. Christian Frey provides a stable presence in net. However the team still drifts into inconsistency, particularly on the defensive end. Wishy-washy hockey is a first class ticket to the conference cellar and a swift postseason exit.

The Buckeyes also wouldn’t be hurt by an additional dollop of poise. In recent weeks they have been a little too willing to be drawn into shenanigans. The penalty killers are doing a masterful job when called upon but it’s foolish to tempt fate unnecessarily.

Take a deep breath and enjoy the bye. The final frenzy begins next week. Ohio State hosts Minnesota with games slated for February 12 and 13.

Around the Conference

Wisconsin is also on a bye this week. Penn State travels to Minnesota where the Nittany Lions will have to get along without leading goal scorer Andrew Sturtz for one night. Michigan State hosts Michigan in a battle for the Iron D. (I'll take the high road and let you insert your own "iron D" joke here.)

BTN is scheduled to air the Nittany Lions-Gophers game at 8pm tonight and the Spartans-Wolverines tilt at 5pm on Saturday. All four of the week’s games are available through BTN2Go.