Football, basketball, now hockey - Michigan owns OSU in Columbus again, will host PSU in Big Ten Tourney
Just like football, just like basketball … Michigan hockey went to Columbus Thursday and Friday and took four of six points from Ohio State to clinch home ice vs. Penn State in the first round of next week’s Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines dominated most of the game before giving up a pair of late goals in a 4-3 win, playing some of their best hockey of the year.
U-M took the fight to the No. 8 Buckeyes early, dominating in shots and with several good scoring chances from the outset. Freshman defenseman Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen’s semi-screened shot from the blue line made it 1-0 … after OSU tied it, former Buckeye Tyler Duke scored from the blue line at 2:01 to give the Wolverines a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“In the week off, we really focused on getting our box-outs and not letting guys beat us to the net,” Duke told the Michigan Daily. “If we do that, it’ll lead to us playing offense. I think we had success with that. … It was great for Dakoda and I to get on the board and contribute tonight.
“The biggest thing was our o-zone. We were talking about it this morning — just getting back to what Michigan hockey is and playing Michigan hockey. We found a way to rim pucks out to the [defense], get the D active, find ways to the net, and we had some success with that.”
Top 10
- 1
FSU, Clemson settlement
ACC future taking shape
- 2New
Baseball Top 25
New No. 1 team in country
- 3Hot
Predicting AP Top 25
Big shakeup on deck
- 4
Coin flip
SEC Tournament 1-seed decided
- 5
ESPN issues apology
Auburn, Kentucky broadcast statement
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Michigan took total control in the second period, playing some of its best hockey of the year. T.J. Hughes’ rebound goal at 6:49 made it 3-1, and William Whitelaw tallied at 11:42 to give Michigan a huge, 3-goal lead … one they’d need down the stretch.
“I thought we were really good in the first and second, just the way we want to play,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “We had a lot of zone time, we were putting pucks behind them, guys were winning their races, and we used the back of the net pretty well.”
Penalties, though, led to two OSU opportunities late in the third, and the Buckeyes took advantage. They pulled within one with 1:18 remaining and had the extra skater on the ice for the final minute. Goalie Logan Stein, who has been outstanding the last few weeks, was up to the task, turning away 21 shots in the win.
Penn State picked up two points in an overtime win over Minnesota Friday night, but the Nittany Lions — one of college hockey’s hottest teams — could only tie in the standings with a victory tonight. Michigan holds the head-to-head tiebreaker and will host them in a best-of-three next Friday night at Yost Arena.
