Ohio State hockey: Upcoming series against Michigan

[Mike80]

Ohio State vs. Michigan
Friday, Dec. 4 - 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5 - 8:05 p.m.
Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
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The Buckeyes take on the skunkbears in a critical two game series early in the CCHA schedule this coming Friday and Saturday.
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Ohio State is currently6-9-1 (4-5-1-1 CCHA) on the season while Michigan is 7-7-0 (3-5-0-0 CCHA) on the season. scUM is on a 3 game winning streak coming into the series, having beaten Bowling Green, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

This game and ultimately the series will come down to making Michigan have to skate the entire length of the ice and denying them the easy goals. Also staying out of the penalty box is a MUST in this series for Ohio State. Michigan is only 12 for 75 on the Power Play but they are an obscene 71 of 78 on the Penalty Kill this year, which ranks 3rd.

If Ohio State is able to score some early goals in both games their chances improve greatly. If Michigan scores first, Ohio State must answer.


Michigan key to the series: Get out to an early lead and keep the foot on the gas. Make Ohio State have to work for everything and continue the good PK.


Ohio State key to the series: Remember that while Michigan is usually a more talented team, this year they aren't playing like it if they are. The key is a quick start both offensively and defensively. It's my perception of this matchup that OHio State's margin for error is razor thin, so while a perfect game would be great, limiting mistakes, especially on the defensive end and in transition is key.


Some weird or interesting stat I found on the OhioStateBuckeyes.com website:

Between the Pipes

Junior Dustin Carlson and sophomore Cal Heeter have rotated starts in the Buckeye net through the first 16 games of the season. The Buckeyes have averaged just 1.4 goals a game for Carlson (scoring more than two goals just once), who is 1-7 with a 2.93 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. Heeter is 5-2-1 (with a shootout win) and has a 2.80 goals-against average and .907 save percentage. The Buckeyes have scored 3.4 goals a game with Heeter between the pipes, including five games with four or more goals.

This series will be exclusively carried on BigTenNetwork.com's live streaming service.


Predictions:


I would love for Ohio State to get a split. A split at home in this series could blossom into good things for a young team.

I think Michigan wins game one 5-3 and Ohio State strikes back to win the second game 3-1. Call it a hunch. If Ohio State plays its game, they should be able to slow Michigan's offense down. If they try to get into a shoot-out, they'll get blown out.

All stats and records found on OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

So if you get a chance, go out and support the Buckeyes against the Evil Wolverines on Friday or Saturday night.

 

[Mike80]

Heeter Makes 42 Saves as Buckeyes Down Michigan, 5-3 - The Ohio State Buckeyes Official Athletics Site - OhioStateBuckeyes.com

 

[TheStoicPaisano]

Honest question: does anybody like these grey alternates? Between the MS Clipart wordmark and lower-case nameplates, I think they're an eyesore, especially when the team already has a superior grey sweater to choose from.

 

[LitlBuck]

OSU men's hockey: Markell wants change after latest loss
Sunday, December 6, 2009 3:46 AM
By Mark Znidar
Ohio State hockey coach John Markell was burned up to the point that his forehead could have melted a patch of ice on the rink in Value City Arena.
After the Buckeyes ended yet another weekend of up-and-down play with a 2-1 loss against Michigan last night, he challenged his players to start picking up their game.
The team that made the NCAA Tournament last season has many of its key components back, but it hasn't played that way in compiling a 7-10-1 record overall and 5-6-1-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
Next on the schedule happens to be a back-to-back against top-ranked Miami University.
"There were some lessons learned here," Markell said. "Going into this weekend we've dug our own hole. We've got to get out of it against the No. 1 team in the nation. It's not going to be easy. Our guys have to turn into men."
What irks Markell is the Buckeyes were magnificent in dispatching the Wolverines 5-3 on Friday night.
Add to that a 2-1 victory over Bemidji State the previous game and it looked as if they finally were on their way.
Last night, though, Ohio State was outshot 36-27 and didn't score until John Albert bounced the puck off the crossbar with 11 seconds remaining in the game.
"It's frustrating," center Zac Dalpe said. "But we can't bow our heads because we've got Miami next weekend. We didn't play bad. We didn't get a few breaks."
Dalpe said things must change.
"It has been a little bit of a roller-coaster emotionally," he said. "We have to stay on even keel."
Michigan (8-8, 4-6) has been a national power for decades, but also has been asking questions.
"We woke up in last place in the conference this morning and I don't know the last time that happened, if at all, at Michigan," coach Red Berenson said. "We have to concentrate on getting better. Tonight was that game."
The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal by Chris Summers at 9:50 of the first period.
Ohio State missed ideal scoring opportunities in the second period when winger Chris Reed missed a backhander on a breakaway and winger Peter Boyd whiffed on a crossing pass just outside the crease.

Summers said the team wouldn't worry about the CCHA standings until it improves.

"This was a big game for us," he said. "We're trying to focus on correcting our mistakes. As far as the standing, that's in the back of our minds."
Michigan made it 2-0 just 21 seconds into the third period on a 5-on-3 power play goal by Matt Rust.

Markell was livid over penalties taken by Corey Toy (roughing) and Matt Bartkowski (elbowing) on blows to the head late in the second period. Toy's penalty made it a two-man advantage.

"Let's clarify that -- a stupid penalty," Markell said of Toy. "That made it 5-on-3. We just cost ourselves another game with a stupid penalty. What's disturbing to me is these (Michigan) guys are tough. You are not going to rattle another guy."

OSU men's hockey: Markell wants change after latest loss | BuckeyeXtra

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

OSU men's hockey: Markell wants change after latest loss | BuckeyeXtra

Huh, Markell finally has something in common with many Ohio State hockey fans.