Ohio State men’s hockey swept at home by Nebraska-Omaha

Matthew McGreevy
Mon, 10 Nov 2014 04:20:15 +0000
Ice Hockey, Photos, Sports, Buckeyes, Darik Angeli, Nebraska-Omaha, Nick Schilkey, Ohio State men's hockey, osu, Steve Rohlik

Master Sgt. James Finfrock, a senior military instructor with the OSU ROTC, rappels down to center ice to deliver the puck Nov. 7 before a game between OSU and Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU freshman forward Luke Stork (18) battles Nebraska-Omaha senior forward James Polk (9) for position during a contest on Nov. 7 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

Greg Yosenick (left), a first-year in criminology at OSU, and Brian Zovko, a first-year in finance at OSU, pose for a selfie with Brutus Buckeye during a Nov. 7 men’s hockey game between OSU and Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Nick Oddo (15) attempts to hold possession of the puck as Nebraska-Omaha freshman defender Brian Rideout (3) moves in during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU freshman forward Kevin Miller (9) checks a Nebraska-Omaha player during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Matt Johnson (26) collides with Nebraska-Omaha junior defender Brian Cooper (2) during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU sophomore forward Nick Schilkey (37) attempts a shot on Nebraska-Omaha’s goal during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU sophomore defender Drew Brevig (4) moves the puck during a Nov. 7 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU sophomore forward Nick Schilkey (37) falls to the ice as Nebraska-Omaha senior defender Brian O’Rourke (28) looks on during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU senior defender Justin DaSilva (25) dives to defend Nebraska-Omaha sophomore forward Jono Davis’ (18) advance in a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU sophomore goalie Matt Tomkins (31) during a Nov. 7 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Matt Johnson (26) celebrates to the crowd during a Nov. 7 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Tanner Fritz (16) skates into a group of Nebraska-Omaha players during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU junior forward Anthony Greco (44) checks Nebraska-Omaha sophomore defender Ian Brady (24) during a Nov. 7 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-1. Credit: Michael Griggs / For The Lantern

OSU men’s hockey players line up before a game against Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 8 at the Schottenstein Center, where the Buckeyes wore special jerseys for Military Appreciation Night. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

The OSU men’s hockey team huddles prior to a Nov. 8 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU sophomore defender Drew Brevig (4) slides toward the puck during a Nov. 8 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Darik Angeli (10) faces off against Nebraska-Omaha senior forward Dominic Zombo (14) during a Nov. 8 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Chad Niddery (19) fights for control of the puck during a Nov. 8 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU sophomore forward Nick Schilkey (37) races Nebraska-Omaha junior defender Brian Cooper (2) for the puck in a Nov. 8 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Matt Johnson (26) moves the puck during a Nov. 8 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

Nebraska-Omaha sophomore forward Justin Parizek (25) attempts to keep the puck away from OSU sophomore defender Drew Brevig (4) during a Nov. 8 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Darik Angeli (10) pushes through Nebraska-Omaha players during a Nov. 8 game at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

OSU senior forward Chad Niddery (19) attempts to score near the goal during a Nov. 8 game against Nebraska-Omaha at the Schottenstein Center. OSU lost, 4-3. Credit: Kelly Roderick / For The Lantern

Despite wearing camouflage jerseys in honor of Veterans Day, the Ohio State men’s hockey team did not blend into its environment over the weekend. The Buckeyes stood out; they were the team unable to score goals on Friday and unable to stop the opposition the following night.

The University of Nebraska-Omaha beat OSU (2-5-1) 4-1 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday at the Schottenstein Center.

“Same result,” OSU coach Steve Rohlik said of Saturday’s loss. “You have to play a little smarter with the lead. I thought we gave up a couple of easy goals on some breakdowns.”

The Buckeyes squandered a 3-1 lead in the first period of Saturday’s game, then couldn’t score on the power play during the waning moments of their eventual 4-3 loss.

With the Buckeyes’ net empty and extra attacker on, Nebraska-Omaha took a penalty with 1:21 remaining in regulation. The penalty put OSU on a two-man advantage.

Down 4-3 at the time, OSU couldn’t convert as Maverick sophomore goalie Kirk Thompson kicked aside the Buckeyes’ last-second shot and sealed Nebraska-Omaha’s road sweep.

The Buckeyes’ power play went one-for-nine on the weekend and has gone one-for-18 in its past four games.

OSU senior forward Darik Angeli scored the Buckeyes’ lone power play goal of the series on Saturday, but the goal, which gave OSU its 3-1 lead, was irrelevant by the end of the night.

Goals came early on Saturday as the Buckeyes and Mavericks combined for three goals on the first four shots of the game.

OSU’s offense showed good signs in the first period, but OSU sophomore forward Nick Schilkey said the team’s success was lost in the final score.

“Obviously a couple went in early on, but it kind of goes by the wayside by the end of the game when we can’t capitalize,” Schilkey said. “It wasn’t our best.”

OSU notched the first goal of the night at the 4:05 mark when Schilkey connected with senior forward Tanner Fritz to give Fritz his third goal of the season.

Less than a minute later Nebraska-Omaha freshman forward Avery Peterson scored his second of the series and first of the night. Peterson’s wrist shot from the left circle was nearly identical to the shot he beat OSU sophomore goalie Matt Tomkins with on Friday.

The Buckeyes regained the lead one-minute later when senior forward Chad Niddery put a backhander behind Thompson.

After scoring at nearly a goal-per-minute pace, the teams slowed until the 16:11 mark of period when Angeli and Peterson swapped goals within a two-minute span.

Angeli’s goal was OSU’s final cause for celebration. Nebraska-Omaha notched goals in the second and third periods to complete their two-goal comeback.

“We weren’t happy with the amount of times that their forwards got behind us,” OSU junior defenseman Sam Jardine said. “That’s just something they were trying to do, stretch us out once we got the lead.”

The Mavericks’ game-tying goal came after the Buckeyes had a couple good scoring chances and marked a turning point in the game, Rohlik said.

“Sometimes when you start pressing, instead of getting better you start to find yourself maybe not making those fluent plays,” Rohlik said. “That’s almost how we looked.”

Buckeye sophomore goalie Christian Frey finished with 26 saves including 12 in the third period.

Friday’s result brought a different type of frustration to the Buckeyes. OSU outshot Nebraska-Omaha 26-19 and led 40-22 in the faceoff circle.

“Our guys didn’t have a lot of zip tonight,” Nebraska-Omaha coach Dean Blais said on Friday. “Ohio State had the better chances.”

The Buckeyes’ possession wasn’t enough to solve Maverick senior goalie Ryan Massa who made 25 saves for the Mavericks. OSU Senior forward Matt Johnson’s goal in the third period ruined what would have otherwise been a well-earned shutout.

Tomkins made 15 saves for the Buckeyes on Friday.

Loose Pucks

-Fritz went 25-12 in the face-off circle against Nebraska-Omaha

-OSU is having its worst start to its season since it went 2-5-1 to open the 2009-2010 season.

-The last time the Buckeyes were swept at home was Feb. 22-23, 2013 vs. Michigan