KELLY WRIGHT/THE LANTERN
Ohio State sophomore John Albert, left, brings the puck through the offensive zone with freshman Zac Dalpe, middle, following.Dalpe, the team's leading scorer, is considered "week-to-week."
The task of replacing Dalpe alongside John Albert and Kyle Reed now becomes coach John Markell's chief concern.
"We have to find someone who works well with [John] Albert," Markell said.
Such a question never arose with Dalpe in the lineup. Content to distribute the puck, Albert enabled Dalpe to flourish.
"Who can stay with him, who can work with [Albert] without being intimidated, that's what we've got to go with," Markell said.
Wedded to keeping his other lines intact, Markell has limited his options.
Statistically, the line of Corey Elkins, Ian Boots and Hunter Bishop has emerged as Ohio State's top line, having combined to register 20 points in the six games since the break.
With few press clippings to show for its work, a third line has inserted itself into the conversation.
"I really think our best line in the last few games has been [Patrick] Schafer, [Peter] Boyd and [Sergio] Somma," Markell said. "They're playing very well, and playing well together, they just haven't put the puck in the net."
Refusing to disrupt continuity, Markell will choose instead from a cast of freshmen and veterans clamoring for game action.
Rarely hesitant about playing freshmen, Markell sounds inclined to do just that.
"They're here for a reason," Markell said. "We think they can play at this level and this is their chance to show it."
Freshmen Taylor Stefishen, a fifth-round pick of the Nashville Predators, and Cory Schneider have played sparingly, combining for one goal in 15 games.
Inactive since Nov. 28, sophomore Todd Rudasill, who netted two goals earlier in the season at Michigan, offers the most experience of bench-bound forwards.
Senior Nick Biondo, a defenseman, has been practicing at forward and is available.
James Pallitto can be reached at pallitto.1@osu.edu.
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