Michigan to Return to Yost, Big Ten Play Against No. 11 Buckeyes

Friday, January 31

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

Ohio State

Cam York (Michigan Photography)

Michigan to Return to Yost, Big Ten Play Against No. 11 Buckeyes

1/30/2020 11:50:00 AM | Ice Hockey

By: Kristy McNeil

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PROMOTIONS
• Jan. 31: Trading Card Giveaway
• Feb. 1: Chuck-A-Puck/Canned Food Drive
• Full Promotions Schedule

The University of Michigan ice hockey team looks to continue its four-game unbeaten streak as the Wolverines resume Big Ten play this weekend when they host No. 11 Ohio State at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop for Friday (Jan. 31) and Saturday's game are 7:30 p.m. Tickets for both games are standing room only, and both contests wil be streamed live on BTN Plus.

Series History

Michigan and Ohio State will meet for the 144th time in program history, with Michigan leading, 83-46-14, in the all-time series with the Buckeyes. The teams first met in February 1964, when Michigan easily defeated the Buckeyes, 21-0, in Columbus.

Ohio State won both meetings in Columbus back in early November in games decided by one goal. On Friday (Nov. 1), the Wolverines had a 2-0 lead that was evaporated on back-to-back power-play goals by the Buckeyes and the game-winner by Austin Pooley in a 3-2 final. On Saturday (Nov. 2), Cam York scored his first collegiate goal to tie the game with less than four minutes left in the game before Tate Singleton scored the go-ahead goal with just 1:31 remaining to seal a 2-1 OSU victory.

Wolverine Bite

Michigan is 3-0-1 in the 2020 calendar year after facing two ranked teams on the road. The Wolverines swept then-No. 14 Notre Dame and went 1-0-1 at then-No.6 Penn State with a shutout of each team. Overall, the Wolverines are 10-11-3 and are sixth in the Big Ten standings with a 5-7-2-1 record. Jake Slaker and Will Lockwood are tied atop the scoring column with 14 points. Slaker leads the team with eight goals and Lockwood paces the Wolverines with nine assists, while Johnny Beecher and Nick Pastujov have 12 points. Defensemen Cam York and Nick Blankenburg follow with 11 points apiece. Strauss Mann ranks in fourth in the nation in save percentage (.937) and is eighth in the nation with a 1.91 goals-against average.

Scouting the Buckeyes

Ohio State enters the weekend ranked No. 11 in the USCHO poll with a 15-8-3 overall record, which includes a 8-6-2 Big Ten record. The Buckeyes dropped five places from No. 6 after being swept at Minnesota, 6-3, and 4-1, last weekend. Offensively, OSU is led by Tanner Laczynski who has 26 points on seven goals and a team-best 19 assists. Gustaf Westlund has a team-high 12 goals and 10 assists, and Carson Meyer has nine goals and 10 assists. Tommy Napier is 12-7-2 in goal with a .927 save percentage and a 2.06 GAA.

Up Next

Friday, Feb. 7 -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8 -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.