OK, it should have been a victorious week for Ohio State. Michigan State just didn't get the memo. The visitors smoked OSU for four goals in the first period. Then held off the late charging Buckeyes to claim a 5-4 victory.
| scoring by period | 1 | 2 | 3 | final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan State | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| No. 13 Ohio State | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
The Spartans took it to the Bucks early. They outshot OSU 15-9 in the opening period. By the first intermission break Michigan State enjoyed a 4-0 lead.
Ohio State began to rally in the middle frame. The torpid offense was jolted to life by the Bucks’ scoring leaders, special teams, and the hot hand of Kevin Miller. Nick Schilkey kicked the period off with a power play goal, overall score No. 25 on the season and his fifteenth man-advantage tally.
Nick Schilkey scored his 25th goal of the season - 15th on the power play - in the second period. https://t.co/HhuE5BqNqW #GoBucks
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) March 4, 2017
Miller struck midway through the frame. He potted his fourth goal in the last six games. The Stony Plain, Alberta native now owns at least a point in four consecutive series.
Joshua GustK. Miller GOAL. https://t.co/mWoEtR5aBY #GoBucks
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) March 4, 2017
Mason Jobst cut the Buckeye deficit to two a few minutes later. He nabbed the puck while killing a Spartan power play and took off for the Michigan State net where he deposited tally No. 15 on the year. The shorthander snapped a four game goalless streak for the Buckeyes’ top point man.
Mason Jobst notched point 44 on the year with his 2nd shorty of the season. https://t.co/g0I3H0Hd2G #GoBucks
— Ohio State M Hockey (@OhioState_MHKY) March 4, 2017
More than 20 minutes of game time passed before the next OSU goal. Dave Gust kept the comeback attempt alive with a power play goal late in the third period. However that is where the Buckeye rally stopped. The team could not find the equalizer in the closing minutes of the contest.
| buckeye goal scorers (assists) | pd | time |
|---|---|---|
| PP - Nick Schilkey (Josh Healey, Mason Jobst) | 2 | 2:15 |
| Kevin Miller (Dave Gust, Dakota Joshua) | 2 | 10:02 |
| SH - Mason Jobst (unassisted) | 2 | 13:19 |
| PP - Dave Gust (Dakota Joshua, Mason Jobst) | 3 | 15:43 |
The loss drops Ohio State to 17-10-6 overall and 8-8-1-1 in the Big Ten. It also clarifies the team’s postseason position. The Buckeyes will finish either third or fourth in the conference and their only shot at an NCAA tournament bid is to win the B1G tourney.
Maybe this will work out for the Bucks in the long run. Perhaps having their postseason situation determined will give the team breathing room to focus on regaining its early season magic free of the nagging worrying over rankings or the conference standings. One thing is for certain, though. Despite their recent results I wouldn’t give up on these Buckeyes just yet.
- The deluge of Spartan goals chased starter Christian Frey from the net. Matt Tomkins took over in the second period and finished the game.
- Senior defenseman Drew Brevig returned to the active roster, seeing action for the first time since January 20.
- Listen to postgame comments from head coach Steve Rohlik and forward Mason Jobst here.
- Other Big Ten results: Michigan rallied late to top Minnesota, 5-3. Wisconsin skated away from Penn State in a back and forth battle, 7-4.
