Disappointment is all the Ohio State men’s hockey team can feel after it lost both games this weekend at the Schottenstein Center to visiting Alaska-Fairbanks, dropping Friday night’s contest 4-1, followed by a 5-4 loss Saturday.
What was most disappointing to the Buckeyes was they needed only one point to secure home ice for the postseason.
“It was a heck of a way to lose a game,” OSU coach John Markell said after Saturday’s loss. “The guys know they took a step forward. Some guys played better than they have been. Our defense made some mistakes and it gets frustrating.
“When we score four goals at home, normally we can hold them. We were just missing an element tonight. You have to compliment (Alaska-Fairbanks). The pucks fell in the right guys’ hands for them,” he said.
After a strong start, OSU has run into some tough times, losing its last three games. OSU came into this weekend’s series unbeaten in every CCHA home matchup.
Friday night may have been one of OSU’s worst performances this year. The lone highlight came with minutes left in the game, when forward R.J. Umberger unleashed seemingly all the frustration from the game into one shot, which flew behind surprised Nanook goaltender Keith Bartusch.
The Buckeyes got off plenty of shots, putting 41 on Bartusch, but Umberger’s goal was the only one given up.
The Buckeyes did not fair much better in the second game of the home series.
“We knew we would certainly be in for a dogfight,” Alaska-Fairbanks coach Guy Gadowsky said. “I thought both teams played very hard on both nights. I thought they (OSU) were very fast, and there was a great pace to the game. This win gives us a lot of confidence heading into the playoffs. Anytime you come into an arena like this and take four points from the home team — that is something you can take pride in.”.
Buckeye forward Chris Olsgard lit the lamp twice on Saturday, scoring both of his goals early in the game; however, the Buckeye defense could not stop the charging Nanooks, as Alaska-Fairbanks tied the game each time OSU went up by a goal.
Near the end of the second period, Umberger dazzled the crowd as he fought off a Nanook defender, brought the puck between his legs and fired a shot over the shoulder of a stunned Bartusch for his second goal of the series.
However, Alaska-Fairbanks tied the game before the end of the second period. Each team scored one more goal to leave the score tied at four with less then a minute to play.
An icing call brought the faceoff back into the OSU zone where the Nanooks won the draw and promptly let a shot go. The puck found its way past OSU goalie Mike Betz, giving Alaska-Fairbanks its final lead.
The OSU defense, which has been reliable all season, has also struggled recently. The team has given up two short-handed goals in its last three games. The Buckeyes were close to giving up a third, but the Nanook player came onto the ice when the goal was scored.
The Buckeyes travel to Northern Michigan Friday and Saturday.
“We are going to have to hang tough and earn some points,” Markell said. “Anything is possible.”
