In just a couple of hours, Ohio State men’s hockey will skate in the Frozen Four. It is only the second time in program history that the Buckeyes have made the national semifinals. This is OSU's first trip back to the semis since being bounced by Boston College in 1998.
The No. 1 Bucks (Midwest regional) will face off with No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (West regional) in a semifinal matchup today at 6pm ET. The game takes place in St. Paul, Minnesota so despite Ohio State's seeding this is essentially a home game for Duluth. Catch the action live at 6pm ET on ESPN2 and online via WatchESPN.
| Game Info | NCAA Men's Hockey Semifinal |
|---|---|
| Opening Faceoff | Thursday, 6pm ET |
| Location | Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul, Minnesota) |
| Television | ESPN2 |
| Radio | 1460 AM, Sirus/XM College Sports Nation |
| Online | WatchESPN |
The Buckeyes and Bulldogs have met eight times before with the Scarlet and Gray holding a slight 4-3-1 lead in the series. The teams’ last and most memorable rumble came in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament. Duluth edged OSU in that contest, 3-2, in overtime. The Bulldogs went on to the national championship game where they fell to Denver by a single goal.
Know Thyself, Know Thy Enemy
| Team Stats | Minnesota-Duluth | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Records | 23-16-3, 15-13-0 NCHC | 26-9-5, 17-9-2 B1G |
| Avg. Goals Scored | 3.05 (nineteenth in NCAA) | 3.25 (tenth in NCAA) |
| Avg. Goals Allowed | 2.14 (eighth in NCAA) | 2.08 (third in NCAA) |
| Power Play | 23.9% (sixth in NCAA) | 23.9% (seventh in NCAA) |
| Penalty Kill | 82.6% (nineteenth in NCAA) | 89.3% (first in NCAA) |
| Points Leader | Scott Perunovich (36) | Tanner Laczynski (46) |
| Goals Leader | Riley Tufte (16) | Mason Jobst (21) |
| Top Goaltender | Hunter Shepard (1.95/.924) | Sean Romeo (2.06/.927) |
Ohio State and Minnesota-Duluth share several similarities. Both boast top-10 defenses. Both are backed by rock-solid netminders. The most notable similarity, though, is the fact that no one expected either team to reach this year’s Frozen Four.
Both teams lost scads of major players after 2016-17 due to graduation and early departures. UMD said goodbye to six of its top eight scorers, five of its six defensemen, and its starting goaltender. OSU parted with key leaders at every position, including every goalie with experience in the Buckeye net.
And yet, here they are. The Bucks banded together to become greater than the sum of their parts, backed by the stellar goaltending of transfer Sean Romeo. They entered the NCAA tourney as a No. 1 seed and, firing on all cylinders, made quick work of both Cinderella Princeton and reigning national champ Denver.
Duluth’s Youth Movement
Meanwhile, Duluth’s young talent lifted its team to unexpected heights. The Bulldogs were a top-10 team much of the season. They finished third overall in a very good NCHC. They also sent five players to this year’s World Juniors with Team USA. That group included Riley Tufte, a first-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars, and 2018 draft-eligible NCHC Rookie of the Year Scott Perunovich.
Perunovich set a program record for points by a freshman defenseman (36) this season. He broke a mark previously held by NHL blueliner Justin Faulk (33). Sophomore goalie Hunter Shepard also busted a Duluth record. He posted a Bulldog-best eight shutouts. This tied Shepard for second in the nation in total whitewashes.
The Bulldogs’ Postseason Path
UMD stumbled in the NCHC tournament, dropping both a semifinal match and the league's consolation game. However, the Bulldogs squeaked into the NCAA tourney by .0001 of an RPI point, edging Minnesota. Head coach Scott Sandelin said the skin-of-the-teeth nature of his team’s NCAA berth provided the “spark” which powered it to the semifinals.
Duluth opened the national tournament with a 3-2 overtime win over second-seeded Minnesota State. The team punched its ticket to the semis with a 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Air Force. Both games saw 20+ minute stretches during which UMD did not surrender a single shot on goal.
Minnesota-Duluth impressed the heck out of opposing coach Frank Serratore in the West regional. The Air Force bench boss told Matt Wellens of the Duluth News Tribune, “That team plays with a maturity far beyond its level. They play hard. They play fast. They play clean. They play free. Whoever gets them in the Frozen Four is going to have their hands full."
The Key to Victory
So how does one beat Duluth? Ask Denver. The Pioneers are currently riding a 5-0-0 streak against the Bulldogs which dates back to last year’s national title game. Every one of those games was a tight, one-goal affair. More than once, Denver head coach Jim Montgomery credited a “relentless” 200’ team effort with giving the Pioneers the extra push necessary for victory.
Such a game plan falls squarely in Ohio State’s wheelhouse. An unstoppable rink long, roster deep effort is precisely what allowed OSU to bottle up Princeton’s potent offense and dispatch reigning champ Denver. There’s no reason for the Buckeyes to mess with what works against the Bulldogs.
How I See It
I expect this to be a close game. Duluth is crazy talented and well-coached. The youngsters may not have any tourney experience but the other Bulldogs have been here before. This is the team's fourth consecutive tournament appearance and its second straight Frozen Four.
Still, I would not bet against this year's Buckeyes. The team's chemistry and commitment are off the charts. Even without point-per-game senior Matt Weis, the Bucks are executing at a ridiculous level.
Ohio State has held its opponents to two or fewer goals in 10 of the last 12 games. Over that same stretch, the Buckeyes also scored four or more goals seven times. The only thing that could slow them down at this point is the bye week, though they've been pretty good this season when coming off a break.
Plus, for all its talent and maturity, UMD is still prone to the occasional youthful mistake. Ohio State's scoring runs so deep there is no Buckeye line against which opponents can afford a turnover or missed defensive assignment. And the Bucks' power play could be lethal against a Bulldog penalty kill which is operating at just 60% over its last four games.
News and Notes
I Know You, You Know Me: The connections between the Buckeye and Bulldog benches are strong. OSU head coach Steve Rohlik served as an assistant under Scott Sandelin for ten years at UMD. Current Duluth assistant coach Brett Larson spent two seasons under Rohlik in Columbus. And if you don't remember this, don't worry. ESPN will probably remind you approximately 4,000 times.
Semifinal No. 2: Top seed Notre Dame (East regional) and third-seeded Michigan (Northeast regional) square off in the other Frozen Four match up. Vive la Big Ten. Their game gets underway about an hour after the Bulldogs and Buckeyes finish up. It airs live on ESPN2 as well and online via WatchESPN.
Early Departure Watch: After this weekend, Ohio State’s NHL prospects, Tanner Laczynski (PHI) and Dakota Joshua (TOR), will likely get a long look from the pro teams that hold their signing rights. Plus, I’d be shocked not to see a pro team pitch a serious offer at Mason Jobst.
In and Out in Minnesota: The Gophers announced the hiring of St. Cloud State head coach Bob Motzko to the same position with Minnesota. Motzo replaces the resigned Don Lucia. First-round pick Casey Mittelstadt is one-and-done with the Gophers. He inked a deal with the Buffalo Sabres shortly after Lucia's departure. Sophomore defenseman Ryan Lindgren turned pro as well.
