No. 15 Buckeyes Down Irish, 3-1

COLUMBUS, Ohio – An outstanding defensive effort helped lead the No. 15 Ohio State men’s hockey team to a 3-1 victory over Notre Dame Saturday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes led 1-0 after the first period. The Irish tied the game in the second but Ohio State moved back ahead later in the period and a power play goal late in the third sealed the win. The Buckeyes held the Irish to just 15 shots on goal in the game.

The win gives the Buckeyes a sweep of the Irish after a 2-1 overtime victory Friday. Ohio State, with wins in its last four games, is now 13-4-1 on the year, with a 6-2-0 2-0-0 Big Ten ledger. The Irish are 6-12-0 and 1-9-0 1-2-0 in the B1G.

The game wrapped up the Buckeye slate for 2024. The squad will be back in action Jan. 3 when it takes on Michigan in The Frozen Confines outdoor game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, followed by a game vs. the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 5. The Buckeyes will then return home for a two-game series against Minnesota Jan. 10-11.

Quoting Buckeye head coach Steve Rohlik
“This was a great way to finish the first half. We were really good defensively. It was an outstanding team effort.”

How it Happened

Brent Johnson put the Buckeyes on the board with just 29 seconds left in the first, scoring on a backhand top shelf from in front. James Hong and Ryan Gordon, who won the faceoff to start the play, assisted on the goal.

Ohio State outshot the Irish 16-2 in the opening 20 minutes and had the only power play of the first.

Notre Dame’s Danny Nelson tied the game at 4:55 of the second, scoring on the rebound of a shot that went off the backwall and right to Nelson in front.

Buckeye Patrick Guzzo put Ohio State back ahead at 16:02, chipping in the rebound of his own shot. Joe Dunlap and Jake Rozzi picked up the helpers on the tally.

The Buckeyes had the advantage in shots, 13-6, in the second and no penalties were called.

Notre Dame pulled its goalie late in the third and Davis Burnside drew a penalty racing for the puck. On the ensuing power play, Ohio State added an insurance goal when Gunnarwolfe Fontaine scored off a pass from Aiden Hansen-Bukata. Burnside had the second assist on the goal, which came at 18:50.

In the third period, the Buckeyes had eight shots, with the Irish putting seven on net.

For the game, Ohio State outshot Notre Dame, 37-15.

Buckeye goalie Kristoffer Eberly made 14 saves in 59:23 and Notre Dame’s Owen Say had 34 stops in 59:16.

The Buckeyes blocked nine Irish shot attempts, led by Nathan McBrayer with three and Johnson with two. Notre Dame had 12 blocks.

Ohio State was 1-for-4 on the power play, including a shortened chance at the end, and was 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.

Noting the Buckeyes

Eberly has a 1.35 goals-against average and .941 save percentage, with a 9-1-0 record.

Ohio State is allowing 1.94 goals per game as a team and has given up two or fewer in each of the last four games.

The game was the first time since Dec. 31, 2021 vs. LIU Ohio State held a team to 15 or fewer shots on goal.

Fontaine leads the Buckeyes with 18 points and is tied for second on the team with seven goals. He is on a four-game scoring streak (3g, 3a, 6p).

Hansen-Bukata played in his 150th collegiate game and now has a team-best 16 assists, ranking second with 17 points. He has at least one assist in each of his last four games, with six in the stretch.