No. 6 Ohio State returns to Columbus this week for the first of three Big Ten series which will close out the first half of the season. The Bucks take on Wisconsin this week. They stay at home to face Penn State next week. A series at Minnesota on Nov. 30-Dec.1 caps the first half of the season.
Last Week: Sweep at Colgate
| Game Info | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Faceoff | 7pm ET | 5pm ET |
| Television | None | None |
| Local Radio | 1460 AM | 1460 AM |
| Streaming Video | BTN Plus ($) | BTN Plus ($) |
The Buckeyes posted a pair of wins in their next-to-last non-conference series of the season. The goaltenders stole the show. Both Sean Romeo and Tommy Nappier recorded shutout wins over the Raiders.
OSU’s netminders have blanked the competition in three of their last four games. It’s a good thing that Romeo and Nappier are en fuego because the Bucks are struggling to find the back of the net. In three of the last four games, Ohio State has mustered just one goal.
Speaking on the series, head coach Steve Rohlik noted both his team’s progress and room for improvement. “We played better last week. We still made some mistakes. We’re certainly not where we need to be.”
This Week: At Home vs. Wisconsin
| Team Stats | Wisconsin | Ohio State |
|---|---|---|
| Records | 5-5-0, 1-1-0-0 B1G | 6-4-1, 1-1-0-0 B1g |
| National Polls | Receiving Votes / N/A | No. 6 / No. 6 |
| Avg. Goals For / Against | 3.40 / 3.00 | 2.20 / 2.10 |
| Power Play / Penalty Kill | 20.9% / 72.3% | 11.6% / 80.0% |
| Leading Goal Scorer | Sean Dhooghe (6) | Mason Jobst (5) |
| Points Leader | Wyatt Kalynuk (11) | Jobst, Meyer (8) |
| Top Goaltender | Daniel Lebedeff (2.03/.927) | Tommy Nappier (1.32/.957) |
The Badgers finished 2017-18 with a 14-19-4 overall record and an 8-13-3 mark in the Big Ten. They posted some big wins and some big losses. The team hoped to find greater consistency in 2018-19 in spite of some significant losses to graduation (Cameron Hughes) and the pros (Trent Frederic).
Consistency largely eluded Wisconsin through the early weeks of the season, but the Badgers might finally be zeroing in on it. Wisconsin’s last three outings have essentially all been one-goal decisions. The Badgers fell in overtime, 3-2, to current No. 11 North Dakota. Then they split their Big Ten opening series against No. 19 Minnesota with a 3-2 loss and a 3-1 win.
Rohlik has no doubt about either the challenge Wisconsin presents or what his team needs to do to win. “[The Badgers] play hard, No. 1. That puck drops, they’re going to bring it for 60 minutes. We’ve got to match that energy and obviously try to bring it to a higher level ourselves...They’re well coached. They’re not going to give you much. They’re going to play good defensively. And then it comes down to special teams.”
Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Rohlik’s two keys to victory, special teams, and 60-minute energy, are both areas in which the Bucks have struggled. They own one of the nation’s worst power plays, ranking 53rd out of 60 teams.
- See Rohlik’s full pre-series interview via OSU Athletics along with comments from Buckeye captain Mason Jobst.
Around the Big Ten
| Big Ten Standings | W | L | T | SOW | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 8 Notre Dame | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| No. 6 Ohio State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 16 Michigan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 19 Minnesota | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| RV Wisconsin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| No. 5 Penn State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
In non-conference action last week OSU swept Colgate. Penn State also had the brooms out for Robert Morris. Arizona State showed well against the Big Ten once again, this time sweeping Michigan State. The Big Ten continued to see splits. Notre Dame and Michigan each won half their series. So did Wisconsin and Minnesota.
There’s a full slate of B1G games this week. The Badgers and Buckeyes battle. Plus No. 16 Michigan visits No. 5 Penn State and No. 8 Notre Dame travels to Michigan State. These are the first conference series of the season for the Nittany Lions and Spartans. No. 19 Minnesota is the only team playing out of conference. The Gophers host St. Lawrence.
