Dec. 14, 2012

Stats | OSU 1, Miami 1 OT  | Video recap

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s hockey team skated to a 1-1 overtime tie with No. 5-ranked Miami Friday in Value City Arena, with senior Devon Krogh scoring for the Buckeyes and classmate Brady Hjelle making 28 saves in the Ohio State net. The RedHawks won the shootout, 1-0 in three rounds, to take the extra point in the CCHA standings.

The Buckeyes (7-5-5, 6-2-3-1 CCHA) and RedHawks (10-3-4, 7-3-3-3 CCHA) will close the series, and the first half of the season, at 8:05 p.m. Saturday in Value City Arena.

The teams were scoreless through the first two periods. In the opening stanza, Ohio State outshot the RedHawks, 10-5, and each team had one power play chance. Hjelle had 14 saves in the second period, with Ohio State putting six shots on the RedHawk net. The Buckeyes had one power play in the middle period and had their third chance of the game start with 1.1 seconds left in the stanza.

Krogh opened the scoring with an unassisted goal at 3:52 of the third period. He got to the puck off a RedHawk clearing attempt and his slapshot was able to get through for his second goal of the season. At 12:43 the RedHawks’ Curtis McKenzie tied the game with a power play goal, scoring on a one-timer, assisted by Riley Barber and Matthew Caito. Miami outshot Ohio State in the period, 7-3, and each team had one power play opportunity.

Neither team was able to score in overtime. Both goalies stood tall, as Hjelle stopped three shots and Miami’s Jay Williams made four saves. Ohio State had a power play chance in the period but did not convert.

The game went to a shootout to determine the extra league point. Miami’s Austin Czarnik scored the lone goal in the second round to give the RedHawks the shootout win.

Ohio State was outshot, 29-23, in the game. Hjelle played 64:58 and had 28 saves. Williams had 22 saves in 64:45 between the pipes for Miami.

The Buckeyes were 0-for-4 on the power play in the game and Miami was 1-for-2 with the man advantage.

Postgame Notes
• Hjelle allowed one goal for the sixth time this season. He now has a 1.41 goals-against average to rank third nationally and is second in the NCAA with a .952 save percentage.
• Ohio State is 0-0-5 in overtime this season and has skated to a tie in its last two games.
• Krogh has goals in back-to-back games and leads the Buckeye blueliners in goals.
• Ohio State is sixth in the NCAA in team defense, holding opponents to 1.88 goals a game.

Postgame Quotes
Mark Osiecki, Ohio State head coach
On the state of hockey today
"There are a lot of one goal games nowadays, there is parity within hockey that is unbelievable since teams are competing a lot harder. It seems like there's going to be a lot of one-score games in the future."

On the game overall
"It was a well played hockey game and both teams competed hard."

On Miami’s performance tonight
"They're a good hockey team, they do a lot of the little things well."

Devon Krogh, Ohio State senior defenseman
On scoring the Buckeyes’ lone goal
“It seemed like there was a lot of space in front of me and a lot of time. We knew it was going to be a low scoring game, so you just need to put the puck in the back of the net when you have the opportunity.”

Brady Hjelle, Ohio State senior goaltender
On the shootout loss after a tie
“It stings. You have to look at it from the prospective that it’s just a tie though and get ready for tomorrow.”

On starting in goal this season
“It’s fun to get out there as much as you can. The team’s playing really well in front of me, so that helps out a lot.”

Enrico Blasi, Miami head coach
On the game
“This was one of those games in December where there’s not a lot going on and they’re coming off exams. I think both teams played well. I’m not going to get into shootouts because I think everyone knows how I feel about them.”

On gaining momentum
“I thought when we scored we got some energy. I thought we were able to make some good plays. It was one of those games where you’re on the road and you have to find a way to save the game.”

“We got the extra point so there’s a bit of momentum going into the game tomorrow, but we know we have to go again hard tomorrow. They had their chances and we had our chances. It was a typical rivalry game with Ohio State. The nerves are there.”

Curtis McKenzie, Miami senior forward
On his power play goal
“We’ve been working on our power play. Coach [Blasi] said it’s something we need to get better at. We’ve been progressing. It was nice that I could get some of the nerves off of us.”

Jay Williams, Miami freshman goaltender
On pressure as a freshman goalie
“You try not to think about it. This is the third or fourth road trip I’ve been a part of. You look at it as a challenge. It’s fun for me. I enjoy it.”

On Ohio State’s only goal
“It squeaked under my arm. It’s one I’d like to have back, but it’s nice to have courtesy on the other end with Curtis [McKenzie] to bail me out.”