It all comes down to this. The Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State are set for a season finale with everything hanging in the balance. Here is our hockey series preview:
The No. 11 Michigan Wolverines (17-12-3) are fresh and ready to roll coming off a late-season bye week. Awaiting them is No. 8 Ohio State (20-10-2), which has been reeling as the Wolverines rested. With neither team likely to win the Big Ten Tournament and both teams tied for 10th in the Pairwise rankings — the projected at-large cut line is hovering around No. 12 — this series will have a postseason feel to it.
Despite falling victim to a Minnesota sweep last weekend, the Buckeyes have been the biggest surprise in the Big Ten this season. Currently third in the conference standings, but could still finish as high as second, Ohio State has already secured home ice for the first round of the conference tournament.
A well-balanced team on both ends, Ohio State is led by Northeastern transfer winger Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (13G, 19A). Beyond having the best name in college hockey, Fontaine is also one hell of an all-around forward for the Buckeyes. In their first meeting against Michigan, he scored two goals and dished out a pair of assists in a victorious four-point weekend.
Complementing Fontaine is 6-foot-4 center and leading goal-scorer Riley Thompson (16G, 13A). Thompson also scored two goals against the Wolverines in January and added one assist in the teams’ first meeting.
On the blue line, RIT transfer Aiden Hansen-Bukata (2G, 21A) has been a revelation. Hansen-Bukata is the best skater on the team and is the most important two-way player down the stretch for the Buckeyes.
In net, goalie Logan Terness (.923 SV%) looks to be the guy after starting both games against Minnesota last weekend. Similar to Michigan’s situation, a rotation could still be in order, but Terness’s surge to usurp Kristoff Eberly (.919 SV%), who appeared to be on the Richter Award shortlist earlier this season, has been nothing short of impressive. However, this depth chart movement could also benefit the Wolverines by providing an injection of confidence. Michigan lost to Eberly earlier this season in the Frozen Confines at Wrigley Field and beat Terness the next night at Yost.
Michigan is 2-1-1 in its last four games, all against top-five opponents, and will look to continue to ride the hot hand of forward T.J. Hughes (14G, 21A). He is riding a 15-game points streak — the longest by any player in the country this season — and recorded five points (four assists, one goal) the last time these two teams faced. His elevated play has helped Michael Hage (13G, 19A) become the top-scoring freshman in the country and propelled Michigan’s power play (.262) to the top of the Big Ten.
On the blue line, the Wolverines are going to try and make this a street fight. If the game becomes a battle of limited shots, Michigan trusts its skill enough to break through more times than the opponent (Notre Dame’s Jeff Jackson would be proud). Senior defenseman Ethan Edwards (5G, 14A) has been invaluable down the stretch. Finally playing up to his potential, Edwards has become an ironman, consistently playing more than 30 minutes per night and contributing on both ends of the ice.
Between the pipes — flip a coin. Michigan finally settled on freshman Cameron Korpi (.904 SV%) after two quality starts against Michigan State, but he had to leave with an injury after starting Game 1 against Minnesota. Fifth-year senior Logan Stein (.899 SV%) stepped in and strung together his best two performances all season. In a relief effort and a Game 2 start, Stein posted a combined .945 save percentage while also shutting out the Gophers. Furthermore, Stein has already beaten the Buckeyes once this season, while Korpi took the loss. Don’t be surprised to see head coach Brandon Naurato rely on previous success and current play, and roll with the hot Stein in Game 1 against the Buckeyes.
Key to the Game
Protect the lead. When these two teams played in January, Michigan blew a 2-0 lead in the first game and lost in regulation. The next night, Ohio State blew a 2-0 lead and lost in overtime. The mantra for the Wolverines in these games will echo that of former head football coach Jim Harbaugh: get ahead, stay ahead. This is essentially a “loser leaves town match” for both sides if either team was to be swept.
Beating the football team in November had zero impact on Ohio State’s postseason, but a sweep over the Buckeyes this weekend — barring an unprecedented run through the Big Ten Tournament — would end their hockey season while propelling the Wolverines to the NCAA Tournament.
Game 1
When: Thursday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. ET
Where: Value City Arena; Columbus, OH
How to watch: Big Ten Network
How to listen: Varsity Podcast Network
Game 2
When: Friday, Feb. 28, 6 p.m. ET
Where: Value City Arena; Columbus, OH
How to watch: Big Ten Network
How to listen: Varsity Podcast Network