Michigan
Ohio State
Canceled: U-M Heads to Ohio State for Big Ten Semifinal
3/11/2020 8:28:00 PM | Ice Hockey
THIS WEEK
Sunday, March 15 -- at No. 10 Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 5:30 p.m.
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COVID-19 Update: On Thursday, March 12, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled the remainder of the winter and spring sports seasons due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. In response, the University of Michigan has suspended all athletic activities, including practices, effective immediately, until further notice. Fans who purchased tickets for affected events will receive a refund. For the latest information on the situation, please visit MGoBlue.com/covid19.
The No. 17-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (18-14-4) will continue its postseason quest facing off with No. 10 Ohio State in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Sunday (March 15). Puck drop is set for 5:30 p.m. at Nationwide Arena, and the game will be aired on Big Ten Network.
The Series
One of the greatest rivalries in college athletics is back on ice as Michigan travels south to Columbus to face off against Ohio State in a Big Ten semifinal. U-M leads the all-time series, 84-47-14, against the Buckeyes, but the OSU won three of the four games played this season. In November, OSU won both games at Value City Arena to earn an early-season sweep, while Michigan captured a 3-2 win to close out January before dropping the Saturday rematch, 4-1 on Feb. 1.
This will be the second time in three years that Michigan and Ohio State meet in Columbus for a one-game Big Ten semifinal. The Wolverines dropped a 3-2 game in OT in 2018 before both teams made a run to the 2018 Frozen Four. The teams have played in the postseason seven times across two conferences (Big Ten and CCHA), with Michigan holding a 4-3 advantage.
The B1G Tournament
U-M is 8-6 in the Big Ten Tournament since 2014, winning it in 2016 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, as the No. 2 seed, defeating No. 1 seed Minnesota, 5-3. That championship came just a year after the Gophers defeated the Wolverines, 4-2, in the 2015 championship game in Detroit. This is the fourth time in seven years that Michigan is the No. 3 seed (2014, 2015, 2018).
Wolverine Bites
Michigan captured the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten tournament after closing out the second half of the season 9-3-2. The Wolverines are undefeated on the road since January with a 6-0-2 record to move from last place in the B1G standings (seven points) into a three-way tie for second place with an 11-10-3 conference record. With a 18-14-4 overall record, the Wolverines are 14th in the ever-important Pairwise Rankings.
Michigan's scoring offense ranked 44th in the nation during the first half of the year, and is tied for ninth in the second half, improving from 2.16 goals per game to 3.31. The top-three scorers on the team are seniors: Jake Slaker and his 31 points (team-best 14 goals, team-high 17 assists), Will Lockwood (9G, 14A), and Nick Pastujov with 18 points. After the senior trio, Cam York, Johnny Beecher, and Nick Blankenburg are right behind with 16 points apiece.
Defensively, Michigan ranks seventh in the nation holding teams to two goals per game. Sophomore netminder Strauss Mann is sixth in the nation in goals-against average (1.85), third in save percentage (.939), and second in shutouts (six). Michigan ranks third in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 15.2 per game with senior Luke Martin second in the nation in the category with 85.
Scouting the Buckeyes
Ohio State is the No. 2 seed in the B1G Tournament after going 11-9-4-1 in the Big Ten to end up tied with Michigan and Minnesota at 38 points. Last weekend, the Buckeyes swept No. 7 Wisconsin in Columbus.
OSU is tied for 13th in scoring defense, limiting teams to just 2.28 goals per game. The Buckeye offense (26th nationwide with 2.83 GPG) is driven by the country's second-best power play, converting on 29.6 percent of its opportunities on the man-advantage.
The 2019 Big Ten Goaltender of the year, senior Tommy Nappier, ranks eighth in the nation in save percentage with a .932 and is 11th in goals-against (2.04) with three shutouts.
Offensively, the Buckeyes are led by seniors Tanner Laczynski, who has 34 points on 11 goals and 23 assists, and Carson Meyer (17-14--31). Sophomore forwards Quinn Preston and Gustaf Westlund are next on the scoring chart with 26 points apiece, followed by defenseman Matt Miller with 17.
Up Next
The winner of the semifinal will face the winner of the No. 1 seed Penn State vs. No. 4 seed Minnesota in the championship game. The game will be held at the site of the highest remaining seed.
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