Feb. 10, 2013

Final Stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With third-period goals from sophomore Darik Angeli and Ryan Dzingel less than two minutes apart, the Ohio State men’s hockey team posted a 3-1 road win at Alaska Saturday in the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Buckeyes (12-12-6, 11-7-4-1 CCHA) and Nanooks (13-11-4, 11-10-3-1) were scoreless after the first period and tied at 1 after the second period, with sophomore Tanner Fritz tallying for the Buckeyes on a major power play and the Nanooks tying the game in the final minute of the stanza. Angeli scored the eventual game-winner unassisted at 12:24 of the third period, followed by a tally from Dzingel, who also had an assist for a two-point night, at 14:04. Buckeye senior goalie Brady Hjelle had 26 saves in the win.

The Buckeyes will close their regular-season home schedule with a four-game homestand in Value City Arena. The squad will host Western Michigan Friday and Saturday before taking on Michigan Feb. 22-23. Three of the four games start at 7:05 p.m., with the Feb. 22 tilt vs. the Wolverines at 6:35 p.m. and televised live by BTN.

Neither team scored in the first period, as Ohio State outshot Alaska, 7-6. The Buckeyes had one short power play, while holding the Nanooks scoreless on two chances.

In the second, Ohio State took a 1-0 lead at 7:55 when Fritz converted on a five-minute major power play, assisted by classmate Dzingel and freshman Craig Dalrymple. The Nanooks tied the game with just 26 seconds remaining, with Andy Taranto scoring when the teams were skating 4-on-4. Each team had nine shots in the stanza. The Buckeyes were 1-for-3 on the power play, with Alaska’s chance carrying into the third period.

In the third, Angeli forced a turnover in the neutral zone and scored on an odd-man rush at 12:24 to break the deadlock. Just 100 seconds later Dzingel made it a two-goal game with a goal assisted by classmate Matt Johnson and Hjelle. Hjelle had 12 saves in the period, as the Buckeyes were outshot, 12-8. The only penalty called in the period was on the Buckeyes with 11 seconds remaining.

Ohio State was outshot, 27-24, in the game. Hjelle played all 60 minutes and had 26 saves. Alaska’s John Keeney made 21 stops in 58:42.

The Buckeyes were 1-for-5 on the power play in the game and held the Nanooks scoreless on four chances.

Led by sophomore Al McLean with five and classmate Justin DaSilva with four, the Buckeyes blocked 22 shots in the contest.

Postgame Notes
• Dzingel has a team-best 13 goals and 28 points this year, with a point in six of the last seven games. It was his eight multiple-point game of the year.
• Fritz is second on the squad with 23 points, ranking fourth with six goals and first with 17 assists. He has a point in nine of his last 10 games.
• Angeli’s goal was his third of the season and second in the last three games.
• Hjelle’s assist was his first point this season and the second of his Buckeye career.
• Hjelle dropped his goals-against average to 1.78 to rank ninth in the NCAA, while his .942 save percentage ranks fifth. He was named the second star of the game for the fourth time this year and has been named the game’s first or second star a league-best 12 times in 19 games.
• Ohio State is eighth in the NCAA in team defense, allowing 2.23 goals a game.
• The Buckeyes were 7-for-7 on the penalty kill in the series and is 96-for-112 this year to rank 12th (tied) in the NCAA with an 85.7 percent success rate.
• Ohio State is 4-1-1 in its last six games.