Eric Boggs
The No. 7/6 Ohio State men’s hockey team fought hard but came up short in a tough weekend series against No. 5/4 Minnesota, falling 4-1 on Friday and 6-3 on Saturday at 3M Arena at Mariucci. Despite the setbacks, the Buckeyes remain in the hunt for a strong finish as they prepare for a crucial home series against No. 10/11 Michigan to close out the regular season.
Minnesota struck first in Friday’s opener, but the Buckeyes answered late in the first period with a goal from Davis Burnside. The Gophers reclaimed the lead in the second and added two late goals in the third to secure the win. Ohio State outshot Minnesota 26-25, but couldn’t find the equalizer before the game slipped away.
On Saturday, the Buckeyes found themselves in an early hole, trailing 3-0 in the second period before Aiden Hansen-Bukata got them on the board. Max Montes and Ryan Gordon each scored in the third to pull Ohio State within one twice, but two empty-net goals sealed the game for Minnesota. Goaltender Logan Terness made 34 saves in the loss as Ohio State was outshot 40-19.
Despite the weekend results, Ohio State remains in third place in the Big Ten standings with 40 points, trailing Minnesota (46) and Michigan State (44). With the top three teams already securing home-ice advantage for the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes now turn their attention to their final regular-season games against rival Michigan.
The Buckeyes will host the Wolverines for a two-game set at Value City Arena, with puck drops at 8 p.m. on Thursday and 6 p.m. on Friday. Game one will feature a “Wear Scarlet” theme with a sweatshirt giveaway for students, while Friday’s Senior Night celebration will honor Ohio State’s graduating players. Fans can also look forward to pom-pom and Burger King crown giveaways.
As the Buckeyes prepare for Michigan, they’ll look to tighten up defensively and capitalize on their scoring chances. Head coach Steve Rohlik remains confident in his team’s ability to bounce back, emphasizing their resilience and determination heading into the final stretch of the season.
With the Big Ten Tournament looming, Ohio State is determined to finish strong, using the energy from their home crowd to build momentum for postseason play.
