Men’s Hockey: Buckeyes fall flat in regular season finale

The Ohio State Men's Ice Hockey seniors watch the video board during senior night before the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

The Ohio State Men's Ice Hockey seniors line up for a photograph before the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

The Ohio State Buckeyes line up for a team photo during senior night before the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Jaedon Leslie (26) battles in the puck drop during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State senior forward Collin Peters (3) moves the puck down the ice during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State sophomore defenseman CJ Regula (65) moves the puck down the ice during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State sophomore forward Mark Cheremeta (17) moves the puck down the ice during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Jaedon Leslie (26) waits for the puck to drop during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman forward Joe Dunlap (21) battles an Arizona State player for the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Tate Singleton (13) moves towards the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State sophomore forward Mark Cheremeta (17) watches the movement of the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore defenseman Layton Ahac (4) tries to recover the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State senior goaltender Evan Moyse (31) prepares to block a shot during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Jaedon Leslie (26) looks for an opening at the goal during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State junior defenseman Ryan O'Connell (24) races towards the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State sophomore forward Jaedon Leslie (26) moves the puck down the rink during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State sophomore forward Mark Cheremeta (17) races down the ice with the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State sophomore forward Tate Singleton (13) tries to move the puck towards the goal during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

Ohio State sophomore forward Tate Singleton (13) fights for the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor

Ohio State freshman forward Travis Treloar (94) looks down the ice with the puck during the Ohio State-Arizona State game on March 5. Ohio State lost 0-5. Credit: Gabe Haferman | For the Lantern

The cheers of senior night were silenced on Friday during the second game of Ohio State’s series against Arizona State. 

The Buckeyes (7-18-1) fell to the Sun Devils (7-16-3), 5-0, in a lopsided affair that saw the Buckeyes against the ropes for a majority of the game. 

Arizona State opened the game with a tremendous first period which saw them enter the first intermission ahead of the Buckeyes, 3-0.

Senior forward James Sanchez lit the light first at 8:39 off of feeds from senior forward Johnny Walker and sophomore defenseman Jacob Semik. The Sun Devils added to their lead a few minutes later with a goal from senior forward William Knierim at 11:02, his fifth of the season. 

For one final time in the period, Arizona State snuck one past Ohio State senior goaltender Evan Moyse by the hand of redshirt junior forward Chris Grando.

Ohio State had one trip to the sin bin in the first period, compared to Arizona State’s two. Arizona ended the first stanza with a commanding lead in the shot tally as well, ahead of the Buckeyes, 18-7.

The second period wasn’t much better for the Buckeyes. Arizona State added another goal to their score early in the period, putting Ohio State down 4-0.

Ohio State also spent six minutes in the penalty box on three separate minor penalties called against freshman defenseman Ryan Dickinson, sophomore forward Tate Singleton, and junior forward Gustaf Westlund. 

However, the Buckeyes did trim the shooting gap to nine shots, 29-20, and held off three Sun Devil power plays.

The third period was minimal in terms of goals, with Arizona State adding one more to its tally. However, what it lacked in scoring, it made up for in penalties.

Ohio State’s only violation was a hooking call against sophomore forward Mark Cheremeta a little over half way through the period. 

In contrast, the Sun Devils spent a total of 19 minutes in the box, 15 of which came from a game misconduct and contact to the head call, when Walker smashed into senior forward Eugene Fadyeyev, who was slow to get up but eventually did.

Despite a disappointing senior night for Ohio State’s six seniors, this was the second straight game in which Ohio State outshot its opponent. Friday’s final shot tally was 41-37 in favor of the Buckeyes. 

The Buckeyes play in the Big Ten quarterfinal March 14 with the opponent to be determined. 

Photos by Mackenzie Shanklin and Gabe Haferman