Boy, Steve Rohlik hit the nail on the head this week. Earlier this week Ohio State’s head coach pointed to special teams as the likely key to victory over Wisconsin. The Bucks won that battle and the game on Friday. Special teams were also a major factor on Saturday. Once again the Buckeyes came out on top.
| Scoring by Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| No. 6 Ohio State | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Three of the game’s four goals were scored on the man-advantage. The opening tally, however, came at even strength. Ohio State freshman Quinn Preston dragged the Badger defender and snapped a quick shot past Jack Berry for his first collegiate goal.
Freshman Quinn Preston opened the scoring with his first goal as a Buckeye.
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 17, 2018
Assists to Joshua and Larocque.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/P8UiqlNvza
Late in the first period the Buckeye power play struck for a 2-0 lead. Toledo’s finest, Gordi Myer, sniped the corner from a sharp angle. It was his first goal of the season.
Defenseman Gordi Myer scored his first goal of the year on the power play late in the first. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/FsYtKrV3xa
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 17, 2018
Mason Jobst extended that lead in the middle frame with another power play marker. Though the Buckeye captain netted the goal, the whole unit had a hand in the score. Tanner Laczynski drove to the net, Dakota Joshua muscled out the Badger defenders, and Gustaf Westlund jammed at the puck in the paint before Jobst potted the goal.
Mason Jobst scored his team-best seventh goal of the year on the power play in the second period. pic.twitter.com/tLQLs1Wbb1
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 17, 2018
But OSU’s special teams work was only half the story in the win. Sophomore goalie Tommy Nappier extended the Buckeyes’ impressive shutout streak well into the third period. He made 27 total saves in the game including this one on a Dominick Mersch breakaway.
SAVE! Nappier with the breakaway stop. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xSGinUE6UL
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 17, 2018
A power play goal by Wisconsin’s Sean Dhooghe at the 14:30 mark of the third period stopped the streak. But it didn’t stop the Buckeye goalies from setting a new program record. Nappier and Sean Romeo combined for three shutouts and 99 saves in a goalless stretch lasting 231:42. This tops Ohio State’s previous best of 211:58, set in 2011-12 by Cal Heeter and Brady Hjelle.
Tonight’s victory brings Ohio State’s overall record to 8-3-1. The Buckeyes are 3-1-0-0 in the Big Ten. OSU is the first team in the B1G to record a conference sweep in 2018-19.
- Shots were 38-28 in favor of Ohio State. Dakota Joshua led the Bucks with nine on goal.
- The Buckeyes were 2-for-7 on the power play tonight and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
- Tanner Laczynski (1-3--4), Dakota Joshua (0-3--3), Gustaf Westlund (0-3--3), Brendon Kearney (2-0--2), and Mason Jobst (2-0--2) all recorded multiple points in this week's series.
