Michigan
11-8-0,9-8-0-1-0-0
Ohio State
6-14-1,6-13-0-0-1-0
Michigan Drops Series Opener at Ohio State
2/19/2021 9:57:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Kent Johnson went top shelf in the first period before adding an assist later in the game.
» Matty Beniers assisted on Johnson's goal before notching one of his own.
» Erik Portillo made 16 saves on 19 shots.
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Value City Arena)
Score: Ohio State 3, #7 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (11-8-0, 9-8-0-1 B1G), OSU (6-14-1, 6-13-0-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 20 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 5:30 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team's vaunted freshman class continued to carry the offensive load on Friday night (Feb. 19), but the No. 7-ranked Wolverines fell, 3-2, to Ohio State as a last-minute push to tie the game fell short.
Of Michigan's six points on the night, five (two goals, three assists) came via freshmen. Erik Portillo stopped 16 of the 19 Buckeyes shots he faced.
Ohio State took an early lead less than two minutes into the game when it scored off a mixup with the puck behind the Michigan net. Undeterred, the Wolverines kept up their attack.
Kent Johnson scored on Michigan's first power-play opportunity just 7:22 into the game. He made himself available for a pass at the top of the left circle before easing in toward the dot with the puck and drawing in a Buckeye to use as a screen for his shot. With the OSU netminder obscured by his own defender, Johnson picked the top corner for his seventh goal of the season. Owen Power and Matty Beniers picked up helpers on Michigan's opening goal.
Several minutes later, OSU scored to reclaim a one-goal lead with 7:55 left in the opening stanza. After one period of play, the Buckeyes led, 2-1.
With U-M searching for an equalizer, Ohio State set up in its offensive zone and worked the puck around their structure. With several Buckeyes scattered throughout the slot and netfront area, a point shot was redirected past Portillo to extend the home side's lead to 3-1.
After 40 minutes, the shots were 21-16 in Michigan's favor, but OSU maintained a 3-1 lead.
Beniers struck next for Michigan to bring the Wolverines within one goal, 3-2, just 4:21 into the final frame. Nick Granowicz and Johnson collected assists on a goal that stemmed from Beniers' phenomenal individual effort, capping off a rush by putting a shot on net before circling the goal and finding the loose puck to bury into a wide open net.
With the Michigan net empty, six Wolverines pressured the Ohio State zone for more than a minute. U-M had a handful of grade-A chances, including a rocket of a shot that rang off the crossbar in the game's closing seconds, but failed to find the back of the net before time expired.
On Saturday night (Feb. 20), Michigan and Ohio State will face off once again to complete their regular-season series. Puck drop from Value City Arena is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus.
