Good game day to you, hockey fans. It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and a fantastic weekend to catch the puck Bucks in action. You can shuffle down to the Ice Rink to see the Buckeye women square off against one of the best professional teams in the country. Or you can kick back and follow along on BTN as the Buckeye men go to battle at Munn.
No. 4/7 Buckeye Men at Michigan State
| Game Info | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Faceoff | 7pm ET | 8pm ET |
| Television | BTN | BTN |
| Local Radio | 1460 AM | 1460 AM |
| Online Stream | BTN2Go | BTN2Go |
The men’s hockey Bucks resumed their regular schedule last week with a series sweep of Mercyhurst. It wasn’t the cleanest pair of wins but the Buckeyes got the job done thanks in part to terrific scoring depth.
“We’re going to win because of our depth,” said Steve Rohlik. “This is a team deal. We’re going to win or lose together. I think everybody would take the win over points.” That depth will be in the spotlight again this week as Ohio State heads to East Lansing. It is one thing that sets OSU apart from the Spartans.
| Team Stats | Ohio State | Michigan State |
|---|---|---|
| Records | 11-4-3, 4-2-2-2 B1G | 6-10-2, 2-5-1-1 B1G |
| National Polls | No. 4 / No. 7 | N/A |
| Avg. Goals For / Against | 2.72 / 2.06 | 2.61 / 3.17 |
| Power Play / Penalty Kill | 18.1% / 80.8% | 18.3% / 79.2% |
| Points Leader | Jobst, Laczynski (16) | Taro Hirose (28) |
| Leading Goal Scorer | Mason Jobst (11) | Patrick Khodorenko (12) |
| Top Goaltender | Tommy Nappier (1.70/.941) | John Lethemon (3.04/.902) |
Michigan State is led by the spectacular trio of Taro Hirose, Patrick Khodorenko, and Mitch Lewandowski. Together they amassed 61 points over the first half of the season. Hirose is the NCAA’s third-leading scorer (28 points) and tops the nation in assists (21). Kohodorenko’s 12 goals are tied for fifth-best in the country.
| B1G Standings | W | L | T | SOW | PTS | Last Week | This Week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 4/7 Ohio State | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | Swept Mercyhurst (nc) | at MSU |
| RV Wisconsin | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 16 | Bye | vs DEN (nc) |
| No. 6 Notre Dame | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | Def. Boston College (nc) | vs MCH |
| RV Michigan | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 12 | SOL vs MTU, Tied MSU (nc) | at ND |
| RV Minnesota | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 | Split vs Ferris State (nc) | vs PSU |
| No. 9 Penn State | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 11 | Bye | at MIN |
| Michigan State | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | L vs LSSU, Tied MCH (nc) | vs OSU |
Those three are as good as any line in the Big Ten but there is a sharp drop in offense after them. Though other Spartans contribute to the offense, none generate it like Hirose, Khodorenko, and Lewandowski. Hirose, on his own, has had a hand in 60% of Michigan State’s scoring to date.
The Bucks have a significant defensive and goaltending advantage in this series. That should translate to a couple of solid wins. However, regardless of what the stats, rankings, or Big Ten standings say, it seems that every time OSU and MSU meet it’s a nail-biting one-goal affair. “It seems like it’s always overtime with these guys,” noted Rohlik. “There always seems to be a little something with us and Michigan State. We know it’s going to be a close game.”
- Hear more pre-series comments from Rohlik via the Bucks’ Twitter.
- With a goal, an assist, and five blocks against Mercyhurst, senior defenseman Sasha Larocque is the Big Ten’s reigning Second Star of the Week.
- USCHO’s Drew Claussen talked to Mason Jobst about having something to show for his stellar Buckeye career.
- OSU associate head coach Steve Miller and Team USA avoided the upsets which plagued the quarterfinals of the World Juniors. The Americans advance to the semifinals to face the undefeated Russians.
No. 8 Buckeye Women vs. Minnesota Whitecaps
| Game Info | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Faceoff | 3pm ET | 12pm ET |
| Online Stream | BTN Plus ($) | BTN Plus ($) |
The women’s hockey Bucks are also in action this week. They host the NWHL’s Minnesota Whitecaps in an exhibition series. It is the first competitive action for Ohio State since December 16.
The Whitecaps are in their first season with the National Women’s Hockey League. They are currently co-leaders of the league with a 7-3-0 record. The team boasts several mega-talented players like former Gophers Hannah Brandt, Lee Stecklein, and Amanda Leveille. The Whitecaps are also the future home of Buckeye defender Lauren Boyle who was selected by Minnesota in the recent NWHL draft.
Nadine Muzerall says the Buckeyes are looking forward to testing themselves against the skilled squad. “We’re excited to play them and they’re going to really challenge us. They’re going to be one of the more talented teams we’ve played all year.”
Muzerall sees the series shaping up as a battle between experience and energy. “[The Whitecaps] are going to be very creative, going to be very smart. Hopefully we’re a little more conditioned than them because we’ve been on the ice and they’re old ladies now.
