The Buckeyes have a penalty kill ranking second nationally and are 26th nationally in power play ranking. Credit: Mackenzie Shanklin | Lantern File Photo
If you ask players or coaches what aspect of the game is most important for the success of a hockey team, their answer will be successful special teams.
The Ohio State men’s ice hockey team has had that success, as this season, the Buckeyes have a power play that is third in the Big Ten and 26th in the NCAA behind a 21.4 success rate. Alongside the power play, their penalty kill is first in the Big Ten and second nationally at a 92.6 percent clip, with only Harvard ranking higher.
Head coach Steve Rohlik said having special teams playing at this level is important to the Buckeyes as a team.
“Special teams are such a huge factor in your wins and losses every night, every weekend,” Rohlik said. “If you can win that special teams battle, you got a great chance to win the game.”
So far this season, the Ohio State power play has been solid, with the Buckeyes accumulating 12 power-play goals on 107 shots in 56 attempts.
Sophomore defenseman Cole McWard said having a power play that can create goals is a confidence boost for the Buckeyes this season.
“You can get some goals off that or even some momentum — that’s always big,” McWard said. “Special teams are a big part of our game right now.”
While the power play has been effective for the Buckeyes, the penalty kill is better. The Buckeyes are currently first in the Big Ten and second in the NCAA in penalty kill percentage at .926 percent, holding opponents to a conversion rate of .074 percent.
Ohio State also leads the Big Ten and NCAA in short-handed goals with six, more than the four power-play goals it has allowed. The closest team nationally to Ohio State in this category is St. Cloud State which has five short-handed goals and the closest in the Big Ten is Wisconsin with three.
Senior defenseman James Marooney said the level the penalty kill is playing at is a big key in the Buckeyes’ confidence when in the penalty box this season.
“It gives us tremendous confidence,” Marooney said. “There’s going to be penalties throughout the game, and we’re going to take them whether it’s a good or bad call. We just have the utmost confidence in our group and the guys who are killing the penalty to do their job.”
Rohlik said he attributes the success of the penalty kill and its ability to generate offense to assistant coach Luke Strand.
“Luke’s done a tremendous job there with the penalty kill, and the guys are buying in and we’re getting some breaks,” Rohlik said. “Once in a while, when teams start to press on a power play, all of a sudden you get your break the other way, and we’ve actually finished on our chances.”
Despite how good the penalty kill is playing, Rohlik said he would like to see the team take less penalties but said it is nice to have a safety net when they do take them.
Marooney credited the success of the Ohio State special teams this season to the coaching staff, players knowing what they need to do and their communication.
“Talk is huge on the power play and penalty kill,” Marooney said. “Guys being in the right spots, doing their job, just taking pride in what they’re doing. And when that happens, we usually have success, and it helps us win.”
