Michigan
Ohio State
Michigan Travels to Rival Ohio State for a Big Ten Weekend Series
1/9/2019 4:38:00 PM | Ice Hockey
THIS WEEK
Friday, Jan. 11 -- at #4 Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
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Saturday, Jan. 12 -- at #4 Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
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• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
The University of Michigan ice hockey team (7-8-6, 3-4-4-2 Big Ten) will return to conference play this weekend (Jan. 11-12) when it travels to Columbus to take on No. 4-ranked Ohio State (12-4-4, 5-2-3-2 B1G) for a pair games.
The Ohio State Series
Michigan and Ohio State meet for the 137th time in program history, with U-M holding an 81-43-13 record in the series with the Buckeyes. The teams first met in February 1964, as Michigan easily defeated the Buckeyes in Columbus, 21-0. The Wolverines hold a 37-22-6 road record against archrival Ohio State.
While the all-time series favors the Maize and Blue, last season's results do not. The Buckeyes won all five meetings, making them the only Big Ten opponent the Wolverines were unable to defeat.
Scouting the Buckeyes
Ohio State is led by head coach Steve Rohlik, who was named in 2013 the ninth head coach in program history. Since 2013, Rohlik has led Ohio State to being top-15 nationally in scoring offense in four of his five years at the helm.
Ohio State enters the weekend sitting atop the Big Ten standings with a 12-4-4 overall record, and a 5-2-3-2 mark in conference play. The Buckeyes have not lost a game since Nov. 24, having gone 4-0-3, including two Big Ten overtime wins for the additional conference points in their series with Minnesota (Nov. 30-Dec. 1)
Last season, the Buckeyes posted an overall record of 26-10-5, including a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four (the first time for the program in 20 years).
Leading Ohio State
Ohio State is led by senior forward Mason Jobst, who leads the team with 13 goals and 23 points. Junior forward Tanner Laczynski holds the team lead in assists (13) and has chipped in with 19 points on the season.
In net, sophomore Tommy Nappier has played in 11 games, sporting a 1.54 goals-against average and .947 save percentage, which both rank second in the country, to go along with a 7-1-2 record. Redshirt senior Sean Romeo has played in 10 games with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
Merrimack Recap
Michigan is coming off a 4-2 loss at the hands of Hockey East foe Merrimack on Tuesday (Jan. 8) at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines were unable to overcome a three-goal third period by the Warriors, including an empty-netter in the final minutes of play. U-M's goals came from juniors Jake Slaker and Adam Winborg.
Taking it Outside Recap
Michigan earned a 4-2 win over No. 6-ranked Notre Dame last Saturday (Jan. 5) outside at Notre Dame Stadium. The Wolverines were propelled by three first-period goals by Joseph Cecconi, Will Lockwood and Nolan Moyle. The Irish found the back of the net in the second and third periods, respectively, before Dakota Raabe put the nail in the coffin with an empty-netter with 12 seconds left in regulation. Michigan is now 4-3-1 all-time in outdoor games, and has played in an NCAA leading eight outdoor games.
Red, White and Go Blue
U-M's Quinn Hughes and Josh Norris earned a silver medal with Team USA at the IIHF World Juniors Championship in British Columbia (Dec. 26-Jan. 5).
U-M players have brought home 28 medals (12 gold, six silver, 10 bronze), with the duo winning back-to-back medals (bronze in 2018).
Quinn-tesential Blue-liner
Hughes has tallied 20 points (three goals, 17 assists) this season, which is the tied for third highest point total of any defenseman in the NCAA. He leads all blue-liners in assists and ranks fourth amongst all skaters in the country and third in the Big Ten.
Breakin' Out the Pasta
Nick Pastujov has scored 10 goals this season, which puts him in a tie for 21st in the NCAA, alongside teammate Josh Norris. Four of Pastujov's 10 goals have come on the power play this season, which ranks him tied for fourth in the Big Ten and ties him with Slaker for the team lead.
The 'SNL' Line
Michigan's top line of Jake Slaker, Josh Norris, and Will Lockwood have accounted for 38 percent (24 of 63) of the team's goals thus far and have recorded a combined 49 points.
Offensive Defensemen
The defensive duo of Hughes and Cecconi have a combined 35 points, which is the third highest point total of any defensive pairing in the country behind Quinnipiac's Chase Priskie and Brandon Fortunato (43) and Ferris State's Cooper Zech and Nate Kallen (39).
Scoring Touch
Michigan has had 18 goal scorers this season, which includes five first-time scorers.
Creating Chances
Michigan has taken 793 shots on goal, the second most in the country behind Penn State (798) and ranks second behind the Nittany Lions with a 37.76 shots-on-goal per game average. The Maize and Blue are outshooting opponents by an average of 10.44 shots per game and have taken 212 more shots than they have allowed this year -- the third best margin in the country.
Just Shoot It
Michigan has outshot its opponents in all but five games this season, with two of them coming against Penn State -- who leads the nation in total shots and shots per game. The other opponents were Lake Superior State (twice, with one tie) and Wisconsin.
Up Ahead
Thursday, Jan. 24 -- vs. Penn State, 7:30 p.m. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Saturday, Jan. 26 -- vs. Penn State, 7 p.m. (Madison Square Garden)
