The Ohio State men’s ice hockey team maintained their second-place tie with Notre Dame in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings over the weekend.
After only allowing one goal in two games in a sweep against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., the Buckeyes are currently one point behind Miami (Ohio) which swept its weekend series against Alaska.
OSU senior goaltender Brady Hjelle allowed only one goal on 54 shots from MSU.
The performance moved him from third to second place in the NCAA in both goals-against average and save percentage.
If Hjelle continues to play the way he has over the past several weeks, he could very well end up being the best goalie in the nation statistically.
There was some doubt as to whether or not Hjelle would start both nights. Coach Mark Osiecki had said earlier in the week that he would make the decision about who would start the second game after the first game was over.
After Hjelle stopped 31 shots in a shutout on Friday, Osiecki said the decision to start him on Saturday was “pretty simple.”
Hjelle said he was happy to start both games, stating via email that it is easier for him to get in a groove when he doesn’t have to wait a week between starts.
“It felt great to get out there both nights,” Hjelle said. “Everyone wants to play as much as they can, and it was nice to get rewarded with two games on the weekend.”
The Buckeyes offense also had a solid series.
Freshman forward Tyler Lundey had the team’s first multiple-goal game of the season Saturday night, scoring two goals, and sophomore forward Ryan Dzingel extended his point-scoring streak to seven games with two assists.
“It always feels great to score and to get more than one is an awesome feeling,” Lundey said.
While Lundey said he was happy about his accomplishment, Dzingel is trying not to pay attention to his streak.
“I don’t think about it,” Dzingel said. “I am taking it one game at a time and trying to do anything I can to help us win.”
The Buckeyes are scheduled to face Robert Morris University this coming weekend, with the first game in Columbus Friday night before moving to Pittsburgh for the final game on Saturday.