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You wouldn't think a Michigan Man would want to run up the score to ten in a single hockey game, but here we are. You also wouldn't think Ohio State could lose by four goals when one player scores a hat trick, but, again, here we are.
Ok, so Michigan didn't run up the score, but the Wolverines did put up ten goals en route to a 10-6 win at Value City Arena Friday over the Buckeyes. Ohio State fell to 7-11-2 while Michigan improved to 13-7.
The game was pretty much over after one period. Michigan led 4-1 after that one frame and led in shots, 21-11. Zach Hyman scored twice within the first six minutes of the first to put Michigan up 2-0, but the mayhem would come later in the first. Ohio State was found guilty of a five minute major and this seemingly was going to put the nail in the Buckeyes' coffin. But Anthony Greco scored a shorthanded goal at 14:30 to cut the Michigan lead in half.
Then Michigan scored twice within 21 seconds on goals from Dylan Larkin and Tyler Motte at 15:22 and 15:43 respectively. It could have been worse too: a third Michigan goal was reversed after it was found that there was illegal contact with the goaltender. So, still only 4-1!
Shots would be 11-11 in the second, with score effects again having no effect on the Buckeyes. Michigan would score three in the second to go up 7-3 heading into the final frame. Andrew Copp scored to make it 5-1 at 14 seconds into to the second. But then Matt Johnson scored for OSU to make it 5-2. Maybe we had a shot! Then Justin Selman scored for Michigan less than a minute later at 2:36. Then Matt Weis scored for OSU just 29 seconds later at 3:05 on a deflection. It looked like maybe it could be entertaining at this point with the prospect of a furious OSU comeback at least a remote possibility. Motte scored again for Michigan at 12:08 of the second, but who knew what could happen in this game!
Things didn't really get any closer for OSU in the third. Dexter Dancs scored for Michigan at 2:25 to put Michigan up 8-3. OSU did stop a penalty shot in the period, so it wasn't a complete wreck, and then Anthony Greco scored twice within six seconds at 8:26 and 8:32 respectively to give him the hat trick. Matt Johnson scored again too to cut the lead to two, at 14:17. 8-6 is at least possible in a college hockey game! Right?
Turns out I was not right. Alex Kile scored for Michigan just twenty seconds later at 14:37 and Dylan Larkin would add an empty net goal to finalize the 10-6 score at 18:56. At least score effects seemed to matter in that frame as OSU showed signs of life to outshoot Michigan 15-7 there, but it was all for naught ultimately.
Matt Tomkins stopped 23 out of 30 shots for OSU and Logan Davis came in to relieve him and stopped six out of eight shots. The less said about OSU's goaltending last night, the better.
Ohio State should look into some quality defense and goaltending versus the Wolverines since pretty much the same thing happened last time they played.
But hey, OSU won the national championship and TTUN is good at hockey. Ohio State fans likely like their position a little better.