The Ohio State men’s hockey group is dancing for the 0.33 consecutive year, getting into the NCAA tournament because the No. 3 seed within the West Region.
The Buckeyes finished the season with a 20-10-five record ordinary and went 13-7-4 in conference play to complete atop the Big Ten standings for the primary time in application history.
While the roster carries a huge deliver of experience, with 21 gamers getting back from the previous season’s Frozen Four group, momentum is something Ohio State doesn’t have on its side heading into the event.
The first half of-of the season went easily for the Buckeyes, who fought to an eleven-4-3 record with three in their four losses coming in opposition to fellow event teams in Massachusetts, Bowling Green and Notre Dame. Ohio State scored forty nine desires and handiest allowed 37 desires in the first half of and looked primed to go back to the event as a No. 1 seed with its veteran squad leading the way.
Late inside the season, however, things started to move off the rails.
After ripping off a seven-game triumphing streak stretching over four collection, Ohio State misplaced 5 of its final seven video games of the regular season, such as a 5-1 loss at domestic to Penn State within the Buckeyes’ opening round of the Big Ten match.
Part of the reason the Buckeyes struggled within the 2d half became because of its goaltending decline. The duo of redshirt senior Sean Romeo and sophomore Tommy Nappier had an notable start to the season, such as five shutouts and a blended dreams allowed common of handiest 2.05 on 37 goals allowed.
In the final 16 video games, but, they allowed 44 desires, and their mixed goals in opposition to common fell to 2.Fifty eight.
Though the Buckeyes may not be the freshest group heading into the event, they could nevertheless count on the steady play of their veterans to assist lead them.
Senior forward Mason Jobst led the crew this season with 17 desires, 36 points and 8 strength play dreams, whilst junior ahead Tanner Laczynski had a team-high 20 assists.
Ohio State will take on Denver at four p.M. Friday in Fargo, North Dakota.
