Eric Boggs
With their season on the line, the No. 9/10 Ohio State men’s hockey team showcased determination, rallying to defeat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. After dropping game one of the series 4-1, the Buckeyes stormed back to win consecutive games, culminating in a hard-fought 3-2 victory in game three at Nationwide Arena. The win propels Ohio State into the semifinals for the third straight year, where they will host No. 5 seed Penn State in a single-elimination showdown at Value City Arena.
Ohio State, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, now holds a 23-12-2 record, while the No. 6 seed Badgers conclude their season at 13-21-3. This series marked the second consecutive year the Buckeyes and Badgers clashed in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, with Ohio State once again emerging victorious in three games. The Buckeyes dominated the season series against Wisconsin, going 6-1 over the course of the 2024-25 campaign.
Freshman forward Jake Rozzi opened the scoring in game three at 6:02 of the first period, capitalizing on a turnover by the Wisconsin goaltender. However, the Badgers quickly responded, netting a power-play goal just 59 seconds later to even the score. A scoreless second period saw Ohio State outshoot Wisconsin 14-8, but the Buckeyes finally broke through in the third. A power-play goal from Davis Burnside at 9:37 gave Ohio State a 2-1 lead, and just over three minutes later, Max Montes extended the advantage, scoring off his own rebound shortly after a penalty kill ended. Wisconsin pulled its goalie late and managed to cut the deficit to one with an extra-attacker goal at 17:18, but the Buckeyes held firm to secure the victory. Goaltender Logan Terness, playing his third game in as many nights, was rock-solid between the pipes, making 29 saves.
This decisive win followed another thrilling comeback in game two, where the Buckeyes overcame a two-goal deficit to force overtime and claim a 3-2 victory. Wisconsin struck first on the power play in the opening period and doubled their lead early in the second. Ohio State began chipping away when Rozzi found the back of the net at 16:57 of the middle frame, setting the stage for late-game heroics. With an extra attacker on the ice, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine buried the game-tying goal with just 1:29 remaining in regulation. In overtime, Riley Thompson redirected a shot from Aiden Hansen-Bukata at 7:30 to seal the win, with Fontaine picking up his second assist of the night. The Buckeyes outshot the Badgers 41-31 in the contest, with Terness standing tall once again, stopping 31 shots.
Ohio State’s postseason journey began with a disappointing game one performance, as the Buckeyes fell 4-1 to Wisconsin. The Badgers took control early, building a 3-0 lead before Brent Johnson put Ohio State on the board in the third period. Despite outshooting Wisconsin 29-34, the Buckeyes couldn’t generate enough offense, and a late empty-net goal sealed their fate. However, Ohio State responded emphatically in the following two games, showcasing the grit and depth that has defined their season.
Individually, several Buckeyes stood out throughout the series. Fontaine led the team in scoring with three points against Wisconsin and continues to pace the squad with 37 points on the season. Burnside, who netted the crucial power-play goal in game three, now has 32 points, while Carfagna remains a defensive stalwart with a team-leading 60 shot blocks. Terness, who stopped 90 shots in the series with a .928 save percentage, has been a steady presence in net all season.
Ohio State’s ability to dominate the third period has been a defining trait, outscoring opponents 49-33 in final frames this season. That late-game prowess was on full display in games two and three against Wisconsin, with crucial goals in the closing minutes helping secure both victories.
Now, the Buckeyes turn their attention to Penn State, who stunned No. 4 Michigan with a series sweep in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions will travel to Columbus for a high-stakes semifinal matchup, where the Buckeyes will look to keep their championship hopes alive. Meanwhile, No. 1 seed Michigan State will host No. 7 Notre Dame in the other semifinal, setting the stage for an intense weekend of Big Ten hockey.
With momentum on their side and a passionate home crowd behind them, Ohio State will aim to continue their postseason run and punch their ticket to the Big Ten championship game.
