Ohio State Hockey Splits Home Series With No. 1 Michigan

The Ohio State hockey team split its home series with No. 1 Michigan this weekend, losing 5-4 in overtime on Sunday after a 5-2 victory on Saturday. Special teams performance proved decisive in both contests at the campus rink.

In the first game Saturday, forward Jake Karabela opened the scoring on the power play. Forward Evan Jardine added a goal about three minutes later to give Ohio State a 2-0 lead. The Buckeyes also successfully killed two penalties in the second period. Michigan scored in the second period to cut the deficit to 2-1. Defenseman Sascha Boumedienne scored midway through the third period for the Buckeyes' third goal. Michigan tied the game late in regulation with an extra attacker, but Ohio State scored twice on empty-net goals to win 5-2. Head coach Steve Rohlik called the win a significant result against the best team in the country. Captain Nathan McBrayer credited the penalty kill for setting up the victory.

Sunday's game followed a similar pattern before the Buckeyes lost control. Ohio State started strong, killing a penalty and scoring a power-play goal to take a 1-0 lead into the second period. The game turned when the Buckeyes drew untimely penalties. Michigan capitalized on its power-play opportunities, scoring two goals to take a one-goal lead. The Wolverines extended their advantage to 3-2 with a goal at full strength midway through the third period. Forward Max Montes responded with a short-handed goal to tie the score at 3-3. Karabela put Ohio State ahead 4-3 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Michigan tied the game again with under two minutes left in regulation, sending the contest to overtime.

Michigan won the overtime period, scoring with less than a minute remaining on the clock. The result drops Ohio State to 3-5 on the season. No. 1 Michigan improved to 8-1.

Karabela noted that the Wolverines are difficult to stop on the power play. He said the series split showed the depth of the Buckeyes roster, a group he believes often receives less attention than it deserves. Rohlik said the team knew it had to play at its highest level to compete with Michigan's talent and coaching staff.