The Matchup: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Dates: Friday/Saturday, January 8/9, 7 PM CT
Location: Kohl Center
Ice Surface: 200’ X 97’
TV: Saturday: Wisconsin Channel
Radio: WIBA AM 1310
Video Stream: BTN.com/BTN2go app
Audio Stream: Badgersportsnetwork.com (Free)
All-Time Series: 14-5-1 (UW leads)
Last Meeting: 2-0 OSU over Wisco
About Ohio State
Record: 5-11-0-0, (0-2-0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Steve Rohlik (3rd season – 37-44-8)
Notable: The Buckeyes enter 2016 winless in Big Ten play after losing two games at Minnesota. Both were overtime losses. They bounced back nicely winning the Florida College classic beating Boston College and Cornell.
Stat Leaders:
Points: Nick Schilkey (17)
Goals: Nick Schilkey (9)
Assists: David Gust (13)
Save Pct.: Christian Frey (.922)
Goals Against Average: Christian Frey (2.46)
About Wisconsin:
Record: 4-7-5 (1-2-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Mike Eaves (14th Season – 263-213-63)
Notable: Wisconsin has as many wins as they did all last season but still remain toward the bottom of the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin’s last game was December 12th at Michigan State but also won an exhibition game on January First against Trinity Western 1-0.
Stat Leaders
Points: Grant Besse (14)
Goals: Luke Kunin (6)
Assists: Seamus Malone and Grant Besse (10)
Save Pct.: Matt Jurusik (.900)
Goals Against Average: Matt Jurusik (3.13)
Quick Analysis:
A brand new year in Big Ten hockey can bring many surprises but I do not see a miraculous turn around for this Badger squad to be one of them, at least not right away.
Ohio State is hot right now coming off their pair of wins to great east coast programs. Pair that confidence with a desire to snag their first Big Ten wins after losing in overtime twice to Minnesota, it could spell trouble for the Badgers.
Look for OSU’s stars like Schilkey and Gust to shine and Wisconsin’s second line to try to step up. Freshman Seamus Malone is a player to watch in this series as well as forward Ryan Wagner.
The lower lines will have to battle for Wisconsin due to the Badgers first line being severley outmatched.
Prediction:
Ohio State rides their hot streak into Madison and at the very least wins one game handedly. Wisconsin could put together a tie on the second game but OSU’s goaltending will be the difference here and win this series of the Buckeyes.
Friday- Wisconsin 2 OSU 4
Saturday- Wisconsin 2 OSU 2
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