Men’s Hockey: Pair of blowouts push Buckeyes’ losing streak to five

Ohio State freshman forward Travis Treloar (94) maneuvers the puck around a Notre Dame player to find an opening to pass the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State junior forward Quinn Preston (16) moves the puck towards the goal during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore defenseman CJ Regula (65) regains control of the puck and moves it out of the Ohio State goal zone during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

The Ohio State Men's Ice Hockey team celebrates after sophomore forward Tate Singleton's (13) goal during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman forward Michael Gildon (18) battles a Notre Dame player for the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore goaltender Ryan Snowden (30) prepares to stop the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore goaltender Ryan Snowden (30) watches the movement of the puck and prepares for a Notre Dame shot during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Mark Cheremeta (17) lines up a shot during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore defenseman Layton Ahac (4) regain possession of the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State senior defenseman Grant Gabriele (61) moves the puck out of the Ohio State goal zone during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State forward sophomore Jaedon Leslie (26) takes on Notre Dame junior forward Cam Burke (10 in a puck drop during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State senior forward Eugene Fadyeyev (8) moves the puck down the rink during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman defenseman Ryan Dickinson (74) raises his fist for a Notre Dame penalty hit during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State junior forward Quinn Preston (16) gains control of the puck and moves down the ice during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State senior forward Eugene Fadyeyev (8) moves the puck towards the Notre Dame goal during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 5. Ohio State lost 1-6. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

The Ohio State Men's Hockey team wait for the first puck drop to start the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State junior forward Gustaf Westlund (29) chasing the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State junior forward Gustaf Westlund (29) slides on the ground during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State redshirt sophomore Dominic Vidoli (11) catches the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State senior defenseman Grant Gabriele (61) races down the rink during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore defenseman Dominic Vidoli (9) pushes off a Notre Dame player during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Mark Cheremeta (17) pursues the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6.Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Jaedon Leslie (26) shoots the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State redshirt sophomore Kamil Sadlocha (11) fighting for the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman defenseman Ryan Dickinson (74) tussles with a Notre Dame player during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

The Ohio State men's hockey team huddle up after a successful by sophomore defenseman Dominic Vidoli (9) goal during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State senior forward Collin Peters (3) races down the rink with the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore defenseman Patrick Guzzo (65) shoots the puck down the side during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Jaedon Leslie (26) fights for the puck during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

Ohio State senior goaltender Evan Moyse (31) defends the goal during the Ohio State-Notre Dame game on Feb. 6. Ohio State lost 8-1. Credit: Christian Harsa | Asst. Photo Editor

A four-game homestretch could not change the fortunes of Ohio State’s disappointing season as the Buckeyes get swept for a second consecutive series. 

Ohio State (5-14-1) could not skate with Notre Dame (10-9-1) in the teams’ final series of the season. The Fighting Irish blitzed the Buckeyes in consecutive games and finished the two-game series with a pair of wins and a 14-2 scoring advantage. 

Game 1

In the opening period of the series, the Buckeyes outshot the Fighting Irish 9-7, but this statistical advantage would be short lived as the rest of the game — and series — would be dominated by the Fighting Irish. 

Notre Dame used a four-goal second period to bury Ohio State Friday. The Fighting Irish held a 38-24 advantage in shots for the game. 

Junior forward Alex Steeves exploded for the Fighting Irish with a goal and a trio of assists. 

Ohio State sophomore forward Tate Singleton would be the lone goal scorer for the Buckeyes. The goal marked Singleton’s sixth on the season. 

Senior goaltender Tommy Nappier surrendered five goals on 25 shots faced in the opening two periods, and he was ultimately subbed for sophomore Ryan Snowden. 

On the other side, Notre Dame senior goaltender Dylan St. Cyr allowed only one puck to get between the pipes in a game in which he faced 24 shots. 

Game 2

Ohio State followed up its Friday struggles with an even worse performance Saturday, falling to the Fighting Irish 8-1. 

The Buckeyes were unable to create defensive pressure, opening the way for 36 shot attempts from Notre Dame’s offensive attack. 

As a result of Notre Dame’s flurry of shots, Ohio State sophomore goaltender Ryan Snowden was not able to survive the full 60 minutes — giving up 5 goals on 22 shot attempts through just under 30 minutes of game time. 

Senior goaltender Evan Moyse didn’t fare much better against the Fighting Irish — allowing 3 goals on 14 shot attempts. 

Half of Notre Dame’s goals came on the powerplay as the Irish converted on 4 of their 6 power play opportunities. 

Redshirt sophomore forward Kamil Sadlocha netted Ohio State’s only goal in the loss. 

The Buckeyes look to snap the losing skid Friday against Penn State at 5 p.m. 

Photos by Mackenzie Shanklin and Christian Harsa