TROY, N.Y. – Senior captain Nick Schilkey scored two goals to lead the 14th-ranked Ohio State men’s hockey team to a 4-0 victory over Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) on Friday night at the Houston Field House. With the win, the Buckeyes improve to 7-1-4 overall, while the Engineers drop to 2-9-1.
A late first period goal from Ohio State sophomore Dakota Joshua (Dearborn, MI) got the scoring started. Taking a shot from the right circle, Joshua skated to the net and tapped home a rebound from close range, for his second goal on the year. Classmate Miguel Fidler (Rocky River, CO) crashed the net on the initial shot and deflected the puck towards the goal line, before Joshua got the final touch.
The Buckeyes doubled their advantage at 7:15 of the second, capitalizing on a 5-on-3 power play opportunity. Junior Matthew Weis (Freehold, NJ) found Schilkey (Maryville, MI) in the middle of the right circle for the one-time finish, off the inside of the left post.
Schilkey extended the Ohio State lead to 3-0 at 7:57 of the third, picking up a loose puck just outside the RPI crease and flipping it over the shoulder of Rensselaer sophomore goaltender Cam Hackett (Sault Ste. Marie, ON/Lincoln Stars), for his team leading 12th goal of the year. Helpers went to sophomore Mason Jobst (Speedway, IN) and freshman Tanner Laczynski (Shorewood, IL).
Laczynski added an empty-netter with 16 seconds left in the game, finishing off a second effort after his first try from the blue line was blocked. The tally was his fourth on the year.
Hackett finished with 24 saves, while Ohio State senior Matt Tomkins (Sherwood Park, AB) had 28 stops at the other end of the ice. RPI finished 0 for 5 on the power play, while the Buckeyes went 1 for 3.
The shutout was the first against the Engineers in 16 games, dating back to last season. It is the longest such streak since RPI scored in 18 straight during the 2013-14 season.
Both teams are back in action tomorrow tonight for game two of the series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm.
