Ohio State built a 2-0 lead in the first period en route to a 6-1 win over the Niagara men’s hockey team Saturday evening at the Value City Arena to sweep the weekend series.
With the loss, Niagara completes its five-game road trip without a victory, dropping to 1-6-1 on the season. The win pushes OSU to 6-4-0 on the year.
Adrian Ignagni stopped 13 shots he faced for Niagara in 23 minutes of play, while Jackson Teichroeb pushed aside 18 Buckeye shots when he took over goaltending duties.
“This was probably one of the worst efforts collectively from a Niagara hockey team in as long as I can remember,” head coach Dave Burkholder said. “It lacked passion and commitment to details. Obviously when you’re playing that way nothing good is going to come out of it.”
Max McCormick got the scoring started for the Buckeyes at 6:58 of the first period as the junior pushed in a bouncing puck in the crease after Tanner Fritz’s initial shot was saved by Ignagni. Ohio State doubled its lead less than two minutes later when Ryan Dzingel’s blast from the near boards beat Ignagni high, glove side with 34 seconds remaining on the man advantage.
The Buckeyes saw no indication of letting up in the second stanza as they extended their lead to 4-0 in the first three minutes of the period. Goal number three for OSU came on the team’s third power play opportunity 1:45 into the period. Curtis Gedig dished a pass to Nick Schilkey who was waiting on the doorstep for the easy tap in. Two minutes went by before the Buckeyes received their fourth tally from Matt Johnson on a wrister from just inside the faceoff circle.
Dzingel would add his second goal of the game 6:41 on a shorthanded tally to make it 5-0, slipping a backhand underneath the pads of Ignagni on a breakaway opportunity.
Niagara was finally able to put a dent in the scoreboard 8:30 into the second period to make it 5-1. Freshman Kevin Patterson scored his first collegiate goal on a shot through traffic from the nearside point that beat OSU goalie Davis Logan five-hole.
With exactly five minutes remaining in the second period, Ohio State stretched the deficit to five goals again off another tally from McCormick as Teichroeb gave up a rebound to the junior in the slot and he slapped it home.
The game wrapped up with OSU outshooting Niagara, 37-16. The Purple Eagle went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Ohio State was 2-for-4 on the man advantage.
The Purple Eagles head back to Dwyer Arena next weekend for their first home game since the season opening series on Oct. 5-6. Niagara will host Army for a two-game series starting on Friday, Nov. 15 and wrapping up the following day. Both contests are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. starts.
Tickets are limited for both games so purchase yours today at the Niagara Tickets Office (located inside Dwyer Arena) by calling 716-286-TIXX, online at www.PurpleEagles.com/Tickets or by emailing [email protected].
The Nov. 15 game will be the annual Military Appreciation day as Niagara University Athletics honor those in and who have served in the armed forces. The Nov. 16 game will be the annual scouts day and there will be a postgame skate open to the public.
