Ohio State Department of AthleticsOhio State freshman Cory Schneider takes a faceoff against Michigan’s Robbie Czarnik during the weekend series in Ann Arbor.
The men’s hockey team lost a pair to No. 8 University of Michigan during the weekend, marking the first time this season the Buckeyes have dropped consecutive games.
In spite of succeeding in a raucous road atmosphere the previous week at No.2 University of Denver, co-captain Peter Boyd anticipated a need for tempered expectations heading into Ann Arbor’s Yost Ice Arena, a venue known for it’s unparalleled hostility.
“It’s another step up for sure,” Boyd said following the Denver series. “It’s definitely a hostile environment. When the crowd gets going, the big thing is to stay composed. We’ve got to be relaxed, know what’s coming at us and be ready for their push.”
The Michigan push arrived quickly in Friday’s opener, as the Wolverines jumped to a 2-0 early in the second period.
Consistent with their early season resilience, the Buckeyes (2-5-1 season, 1-4-1-1 conference) responded, cutting the deficit in half on sophomore Todd Rudasill’s first goal of the season. Following Michigan’s third goal of the game, Rudasill struck again to cut the lead to 3-2 midway through the second period.
“I can’t take all the credit,” Rudasill said. “Ian Boots gave me a great pass. It really is just all about your linemates setting you up and they made me look really good out there.”
Junior Mathieu Picard, whose playing time has been in constant flux this season, connected on his first goal of the season in the waning minutes of the second period to tie the game at three.
With the momentum and an offense that had produced a sizable advantage in shots through two periods, the Buckeyes could not capitalize and convert in the third, eventually finding themselves in an insurmountable hole following Michigan’s goal with six minutes remaining.
“We were every bit in that game, the whole game, until the third period.” coach John Markell said. “I don’t think we had a power play in the third period and they had two, that’s the difference.
“They’re a young team and they have to learn from their mistakes. The unfortunate part is you have to learn within 24 hours.”
As Michigan would prove Saturday night, 24 hours would not be sufficient time for the Buckeyes to prepare.
Outmatched, the Buckeyes yielded the first six goals of the contest before Zac Dalpe scored in the third to stave off the shutout.
The 6-1 defeat is the most lopsided loss suffered by the Buckeyes this season.
The first consecutive defeats coincide with the first series in which the Buckeyes’ top line of John Albert, Sergio Somma and Peter Boyd has failed to record a goal.
“I think we had one goal from our top three lines this weekend,” Markell said. “You’re not going to win many games like that. They have got to learn how to generate in games like this.”
James Pallitto can be reached at [email protected].
