Selected Game Recaps
Wolverines get back to winning against Notre Dame, Ohio State earn a split against Michigan State
Recapping Big Ten Play
2019 opened play with a highlight: Michigan beating Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium, without superstar scorers Quinn Hughes and Josh Norris, who were playing for World Juniors gold. That was a theme for the Big Ten this week.
There were two series that were played, both splits: OSU/MSU, Minn/PSU. Wisconsin got swept by Denver to end their non-conference schedule.
Ohio State and Michigan State had a fire-wagon Friday night battle that ended in the 3-on-3 extra overtime, 8-7, in the Spartans favor. That was only to see Ohio State blank them on Saturday, cruising to a 6-0 win and weekend split.
Penn State and Minnesota split too. The Nittany Lions were without some of their biggest pieces but still won on Friday, though they couldn’t put the Gophers (who had their top-line intact) away for a sweep in Minneapolis.
Michigan 4, Notre Dame 2 at Notre Dame Stadium
Michigan 7-7-6 (3-4-4 Big Ten), Notre Dame 12-6-1 (5-4-0 Big Ten)
This was a conference game (technically ‘at’ Notre Dame) -- and brilliant for Michigan that it was. Started off a kind of flukey goal by Joe Cecconi who shot the puck down ice from his own defensive end. Notre Dame started to fight back, Cam Morrison deflected an Andrew Peeke point shot on the powerplay to make it 3-1. The Irish would score again in the waning moments of the game with the extra attacker (Alex Steeves from Jake Pivonka) but Michigan’s Dakota Raabe put the game away with an empty-net goal.
Michigan: Will Lockwood had a nice move walking around and shooting past Nardella and Morris. Nolan Moyle went bar-down with a nice shot. It’s great for them to get a third win in conference, and even better that it was without Quinn Hughes, as this team needs to figure out ways to keep scoring without him on the ice. This game, outdoors, and by itself in the middle of the season, probably doesn’t mean too much though. The Wolverines host Merrimack on Tuesday and head to Ohio State (5-2-3, #1 in Big Ten) for two big games next weekend.
Notre Dame will have to refocus for the Gophers (4-3-3, T#3 in Big Ten). The Irish have lost their last two conference contests and that is not the momentum they want heading into the thick of the Big Ten schedule. I’d say Notre Dame have the edge over the Gophers but it could be anyone’s series.
Ohio State x Michigan State split, 8-7, 6-0 in Big Ten play
Ohio State’s elite defense showed some bend on Friday night, allowing seven and a late-game rally (it was 6-3 with 7 minutes to play), but they didn’t break. Well, they technically did in the 3-on-3 play on Friday, but a resounding 6-0 win Saturday night should allay any concerns. Sean Romeo allowed 7 on Friday in a barn-burner but sophomore Tommy Nappier posted a shutout in a workmanlike win on Saturday.
Michigan State: I highlighted that Patrick Khodorenko could open Ohio State up when I previewed this and he did just that with four assists in the 7-7 tie — two of which were primary looks in the final minutes. From behind the net, he centered the puck to the point 6-on-5 as Dennis Cesana was there to catch and tie the game in the last minute. I also loved his effort on the 6th goal (below). It seemed like he was out for the entire end of the game. NCAA top scorer Taro Hirose was productive with a two-goal, one-assist night on Friday as well.
Really impressed with how Michigan State went to work in the second half of the third. Zach Osburn picked a corner after playing with a lot of purpose and effectiveness. This team just kept plugging away. Logan Lambdin had some great streaking rushes with the puck, and he ended up winning the game off a rush in the 3-on-3 to get the Big Ten win. I loved that he scored even when he had Lewandowski wide-open to his right side. The second night, the KHL line was held off-the-board (probably beat from Friday night) and Ohio State really won decisively.
Ohio State: Gustaf Westlund scored his first collegiate goal and followed it up with a second on the powerplay. It’s good for the Buckeyes to have another one of their top forwards finishing. Mason Jobst had a four-point night. Dakota Joshua scored his fifth and sixth on each night. Another bright spot for the Buckeyes, other than the 29-save shutout win to close the series? The powerplay was three-for-five (Jobst, Joshua, Tanner Laczynski 2 pts on PP) and they only took one penalty on Saturday night. Freshman Quinn Preston looked sharp. Dakota Joshua goal below
Minnesota x Penn State split 4-2, 4-1 in Big Ten play
Both teams picked up quality wins in a series split, the Gophers rebounded from a loss on Friday to put together a solid team effort on Saturday and return the favor.
Penn State: Short Evan Barratt and Aarne Talvitie, who were in the World Junior gold medal game (Talvitie won, as captain for the Finns), Penn State came away with a solid 4-1 win on Friday night. Ludvig Larsson had two primary assists, including on Denis Smirnov’s game-winner. 2nd-leading scorer in the NCAA Alex Limoges was held off the board, other than an empty-net goal.
Minnesota: Since Brent Gates, Rem Pitlick and Tyler Sheehy have been put together in late November, they’ve had 35 points in 10 games. Gates has scored in his last five games, including three on the powerplay. Sammy Walker’s line, however, has really cooled down. Jack Ramsey goal below
Wisconsin hosted Denver for two to close out their non-conference schedule, and they were swept, blowing leads repeatedly as the season outlook grows less bright. They had just 9 shots over the final two periods and none in overtime on Saturday. Being short K’Andre Miller (World Juniors) was surely felt. Slava Demin (Vegas pick) was the hero of the weekend, scoring twice, including one on the powerplay and one in OT. Cole Guttman (Tampa pick) got his ninth of the year in the Pioneers rally on Saturday.
Women’s Hockey
Minnesota beats Minnesota-Duluth, 4-3 in the Minnesota Cup (non-conference game)
The Bulldogs outshot Minnesota but Taylor Williamson’s two goals early put the Gophers in strong position to withstand the Bulldogs.
Gophers Grace Zumwinkle scored her 14th (assisted by Nicole Schammel for her 20th). Olivia Knowles zipped a shot top shelf in overtime from the point (below). Alex Gulstene stopped 27 shots from the Bulldogs in the 2nd period on. Duluth never had the lead again after 11:44 in the first.
Bulldogs Gabbie Hughes assisted on the early goal and then scored unassisted on the powerplay. Maddie Rooney only faced 8 shots over the last two periods and overtime.
Ohio State dropped the first game against pro club Minnesota Whitecaps, 3-2, at home. Goaltender Andrea Braendli stopped 50, while OSU’s shot totals fell off by 5 each period (12-7-2, down to zero in OT). Former Gopher Hannah Brandt’s 2 goals, twelve shots and an assist led the Whitecaps to the win. Kendall Coyne-Schofield had twelve shots as well. Ohio State’s Emma Maltais (2g) and Tatum Skaggs (2A) started the second half off strong. They close out the series today at noon.
Wisconsin and Penn State had the weekend off.