No. 12 Buckeyes Drop Game Two at Princeton, 3-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 12 Ohio State men’s hockey team fell at Princeton, 3-1, in game two of the weekend series Saturday at Hobey Baker Rink in Princeton, N.J. The teams were scoreless through the first two periods. Princeton tallied twice in the first half of the third and then added a shorthanded goal on a Buckeye major power play to stretch the lead to 3-0. Ohio State notched a power play goal for a 3-1 game with less than seven minutes remaining, but could get no closer.
 
The Buckeyes are ow 9-4-1 on the year, with the Tigers 3-4-1. The game ended a stretch of six straight road games for Ohio State.
 
Quoting head coach Steve Rohlik
“It was a tight game for the second straight night. We never had a lead all weekend and Princeton made it awfully hard to try and play catch up.”

How it Happened

• The teams were even through the first 40 minutes. Neither squad scored and each put eight shots on net in the first period and 10 on goal in the second.
• Just 13 seconds into the third Princeton took advantage of a Buckeye turnover in their own zone, with David Ma putting the Tigers on the board.
• Princeton’s Alex Konovalov doubled the lead with a goal at 9:14, scoring on a cross-ice pass from the right faceoff circle on the rush.
• At 9:21 the Buckeyes went on a major power play, to be followed by a minor advantage with two Tiger penalties at the same time.
• The Tigers got on the board first during the stretch, when Brendan Gorman converted a shorthanded breakaway at 12:40 for a 3-0 Princeton lead.
• Joe Dunlap tallied for Ohio State on the power play at 13:15. Patrick Guzzo won the faceoff to Damien Carfagna. His shot was saved, but Dunlap was there to put the rebound home for his second goal of the weekend.
• A Buckeye penalty at 13:59 put the teams 4×4 for the remainder of the major and part of the ensuing minor.
• Ohio State pulled its goalie with 3:31 left and a Tiger penalty nine seconds later gave Ohio State a 6×4 advantage, but they were unable to draw closer.
• The Buckeyes outshot the Tigers 20-4 in the third period.
• For the game, Ohio State ended ahead in shots, 38-22. Buckeye goalie Logan Terness made 19 saves in 56:44 and Princeton’s Arthur Smith had 37 saves in all 60 minutes.
• Ohio State had four shot blocks in the game and Princeton blocked 11 Buckeye attempts.
• On the power play, the Buckeyes were 1-for-6, and they held the Tigers scoreless on three chances with the man advantage.

Homestand Ahead

• Ohio State will wrap the first half of its schedule with four home games. 
• The Buckeyes will host Penn State at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and 7 p.m. Friday. The opener is Pups n’ Pucks night, The first 50 dogs to get a seat HERE will get a dog bandana at the game. While supplies last, fans can enjoy dollar dogs at concession stands that night. Game two is Buckeyes Care night, where the work local business partners do for the Columbus community will be celebrated, and the Ohio State Alumni Band will perform.
• Notre Dame comes to Columbus the following weekend, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. The annual Teddy Bear Toss will be held during game one, with fans invited to bring a stuffed animal to donate. Game two is the Holiday Game, with fun activations throughout the night. 
• Single game, miniplan and group tickets are all available now. Ticket information and purchasing options are online HERE. Fans can also contact the Ohio State Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GOBUCKS (select Option 2, then Option 2) or Athletic.tix@osu.edu. Customer service representatives are available via phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Parking is free for all men’s hockey home games.