The Buckeyes stand together prior to their 3-1 victory against Bowling Green State University on Oct. 25 at Value City Arena. Credit: Danielle Hershenson | Lantern Photographer
Last season, Ohio State’s magical Big Ten Tournament run came to an end in East Lansing, Michigan, as the Buckeyes suffered a 2-1 loss to Michigan State in the March 2024 semi-final round.
Now, following a seven-game win streak, the No. 13 Buckeyes (7-0-1, 2-0-0 Big Ten) are set for a pivotal two-game series as they travel to take on Michigan State (5-1-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten). Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday — both at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.
Ohio State defenseman William Smith said the team has put last season in the rear-view mirror and turned its attention to what lies ahead.
“Obviously, we wanted to beat them last year in the playoffs, but that didn’t happen,” Smith said. It’s a new year, so we’re just really focused on this weekend and taking it like any other series.”
Ohio State has wrapped up its nonconference schedule for the 2024-25 season, going 5-0-1 against teams outside of the Big Ten and sweeping its lone conference series against the then-No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, Wisconsin Oct. 18 and 19.
Smith said the Buckeyes’ balance and discipline have been key factors in their hot start this season.
“We’ve just been playing as a unit, all five of us in the [defensive] zone,” Smith said. “On top of that, we’re playing hard, trying to play mean back there, and just trying to stick to our game plan and our style.”
Despite this early success, Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said his team is still striving to improve every day.
“Every day is a work in progress,” Rohlik said. “Every day, we talk about trying to get better.”
Following back-to-back seasons with win percentages of less than 50%, Michigan State hired head coach Adam Nightingale prior to its 2022-23 campaign.
Nightingale inherited a Michigan State program that hadn’t achieved a winning regular season since 2014-15.
Just two years into his tenure, Nightingale led Michigan State to the top of the conference. The Spartans finished last season 16-6-2 in the Big Ten, claiming both the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships.
Rohlik said he gives praise to Nightingale for his accomplishments thus far.
“He brings a presence about him from his days of where he’s coached and his history of culture,” Rohlik said. “I think that’s what he’s brought to Michigan State, and they’ve had instant success and certainly [have] been noticed around the country and in our league.”
The Spartans did suffer an impactful personnel loss this offseason, as then-freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov was drafted as No. 2 overall in the 2024 NHL entry draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
Still, the Spartans have benefited from returning forwards Isaac Howard, Daniel Russell and Joey Larson, with the trio representing the top-three goal scorers for Michigan State this season.
Howard — a former Minnesota-Duluth Bulldog — led the Spartans in points during his first campaign in East Lansing last season with eight goals and 28 assists, receiving an All-Big Ten first-team selection prior to the start of this season.
Spartan goalie Trey Augustine also received an All-Big Ten first-team preseason selection, following an impressive rookie campaign that earned him an All-Big Ten second-team selection and landed him a coveted spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman team.
Augustine logged his first and only shutout of the season Oct. 25 in a 3-0 win on the road in Buffalo, New York, against Canisius University.
Rohlik said it’s important for his team to avoid costly mistakes, especially in the box, as that can be detrimental during a game.
“We gotta stay out of the box,” Rohlik said. “You can’t give teams opportunities, especially on the power play — otherwise, you’re looking to set yourself up for failure.”
