Michigan
17-13-3, 11-10-2
Ohio State
21-10-2, 14-8-1
Michigan's OT Unbeaten Streak Ends at No. 8 Ohio State
2/27/2025 11:59:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Philippe Lapointe was credited with U-M's lone goal after his centering pass was deflected in by an Ohio State player.
» Held without a point, T.J. Hughes saw his NCAA-best point streak end at 15 games.
» U-M had entered the evening with a 6-0-3 record in games that advanced to overtime.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- On a rare Thursday night (Feb. 27) showdown between the No. 11-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team and No. 8 Ohio State at Value City Arena, overtime was required to determine a winner. OSU eventually scored in the 3-on-3 session to earn a 2-1 victory and a second point in the Big Ten standings.
Tending net for Michigan was Logan Stein, who finished the evening with 23 saves on the 25 shots that he faced.
Despite the first shot on goal not being recorded until the four-minute mark, the pace of play between the rivals was quick and competitive from the opening puck drop. The teams provided a physical brand of hockey with each side trading blows, one big hit after another.
The physicality boiled over in the corner at 10:51 when Garrett Schifsky and a corresponding Buckeye got wrapped up following a puck battle along the dasher. Matching minor penalties for roughing were assessed but two minutes of 4-on-4 play came and went without a serious chance.
Following a swift and heavy period of play, the game was scoreless.
Junior Jackson Hallum created the best chance of the night for U-M less than four minutes into the second period when he used his reach to poke the puck away from a Buckeye in the neutral zone and take off for a breakaway chance. Hallum skated in on net before flipping an attempt on goal that was stopped by the sprawling OSU netminder.
Ohio State (21-10-2, 14-8-1 Big Ten) embarked on the night's first power play at 6:11 following a holding call on Mark Estapa in the offensive zone. Just 18 seconds later, the home team capitalized when a Buckeye one-timer from the slot slipped into the far side of the net to notch the first goal of the night.
Michigan (17-13-3, 11-10-2 Big Ten) eventually struck back at 12:54 to cap off a change in momentum. The goal was credited to Philippe Lapointe after he sent a pass across the crease in the direction of a crashing William Whitelaw's blade. Instead, the puck ricocheted off of a retreating Buckeye and into the net to tie it up at one. Estapa and Whitelaw recorded the assists on Lapointe's marker.
On the shift after the equalizer, OSU countered with pressure to create an odd-man rush, but Ethan Edwards dove to the ice and fully extended his stick to break up a dangerous odd-man rush.
Several minutes later, Evan Werner very nearly pulled Michigan ahead with a pair of chances from the netfront area that were turned aside by the left pad of the Buckeye goalie.
Michigan received a power play at 14:42 when Michael Hage was boarded while chasing a puck. The advantage grew more dangerous 49 seconds later when OSU was called for a tripping penalty to create time with a 5-on-3 situation for U-M. Edwards ripped a one-timer off the post as the two-man advantage was expiring, but the Wolverines failed to find the back of the net before returning to even strength. After two periods, the game was tied 1-1.
Ohio State was granted a power play with 7:38 remaining after Hunter Hady was whistled for cross-checking while working to clear the netfront area. Michigan's penalty killers stood tall to dismiss the chance and return to even strength with less than six minutes left in regulation.
Michigan cranked up the pressure in the closing minutes, but its effort failed to garner a go-ahead goal before the buzzer rang to close out the third period.
Entering overtime, Michigan was a perfect 6-0-3 in games that required more than 60 minutes. The unbeaten streak came to an end at 1:22 when the Buckeyes got an odd-man rush, which they cashed in on to secure the OT win.
On Friday night (Feb. 28), the Wolverines and Buckeyes will reconvene at Value City Arena to finish the regular season. Puck drop for the season finale is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
