Eric Boggs
The No. 8 Ohio State men’s hockey team delivered a dominant performance against Wisconsin, securing a weekend sweep with a hard-fought 4-2 victory at Value City Arena on Saturday. The Buckeyes struck first and carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but Wisconsin responded early in the second period with two quick goals to take the lead. Ohio State answered with an equalizer from Wisconsin native Max Montes at 5:50 of the second, setting up a tense final frame. With just three minutes remaining in regulation, Damien Carfagna netted the go-ahead goal before Davis Burnside sealed the win with an empty-netter in the closing seconds.
Ohio State improved to 20-8-2 overall and 13-6-1 in Big Ten play, sitting tied with Minnesota for second place in the conference standings at 40 points. The Buckeyes swept their season series against the Badgers, winning all four matchups, including two overtime victories in Madison earlier in the season.
Patrick Guzzo opened the scoring for Ohio State at 18:18 of the first period off a setup from Jake Rozzi following a Wisconsin turnover behind the net. The teams played a tight, defensive game early, with each side registering six shots and one power-play opportunity in the opening frame. Wisconsin came out strong in the second, tying the game just 10 seconds in when Ryland Mosley knocked in his own rebound. The Badgers then took the lead at 1:35 with Ryan Botterill’s goal from the side of the net. However, the Buckeyes responded while skating 4-on-4, as Montes capitalized on a wraparound opportunity assisted by Dylan Godbout and William Smith.
The teams remained deadlocked until the closing minutes of the third period, when Carfagna took a feed from Burnside in the Buckeye zone and charged the net, slipping the puck past the Wisconsin goaltender to give Ohio State the lead. Wisconsin pulled its goalie in an attempt to tie the game, but Ohio State’s defense held firm, blocking multiple shot attempts. In the final seconds, Aiden Hansen-Bukata won a crucial battle along the boards and fed Burnside, who fired a shot from inside the Buckeye blue line into the empty net, securing the victory.
Ohio State goaltender Kristoffer Eberly was instrumental in the win, stopping 28 of 30 shots, including all 11 he faced in the third period. The Buckeyes registered 20 shots on goal and blocked 16 Badger attempts, with Riley Thompson leading the effort with three blocks. Neither team converted on the power play, finishing 0-for-2.
Several Buckeyes had standout performances over the weekend. Carfagna recorded a three-point series with two assists on Friday and the game-winning goal on Saturday. Hansen-Bukata’s assist on Burnside’s goal marked the 100th point of his collegiate career. Burnside extended his point streak to four games and set a career high with 28 points on the season, while Godbout registered his first collegiate point. Guzzo also found the back of the net in both games against Wisconsin.
On Friday night, the Buckeyes rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Badgers 4-1. Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead in the first period, but Ohio State responded with two goals in the second, courtesy of Riley Thompson and Joe Dunlap. Gunnarwolfe Fontaine extended the lead early in the third, and Thompson secured the win with an empty-net goal in the final seconds. Goalie Logan Terness was exceptional between the pipes, making 37 saves, including stopping all 15 shots he faced in the final period.
Thompson continued to shine, leading the Buckeyes with 16 goals on the season and totaling 28 points. Fontaine contributed a goal and an assist, bringing his team-high total to 31 points. Carfagna assisted on two goals Friday, extending his point streak to four games. Hansen-Bukata added his 20th assist of the season, reaching 99 career points before hitting the century mark on Saturday. Burnside matched his career-high total with 26 points, while Terness maintained his strong form with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage.
Ohio State will now prepare for a crucial road series against No. 4/3 Minnesota, with matchups set for Friday and Saturday. Both games will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast on Ohio State Radio. The regular season will conclude with a pivotal home series against No. 12 Michigan on February 27 and 28 at Value City Arena.
The Buckeyes’ defensive prowess and offensive depth continue to be key factors in their success, as they maintain a balanced attack and limit opponents to just 2.27 goals per game while scoring 3.37 on average. With the Big Ten standings tight, Ohio State will look to carry its momentum into the final stretch of the season and solidify its position for postseason play.
