Buckeyes Complete Series Sweep with 4-3 Win at Robert Morris

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s hockey downed Robert Morris, 4-3, Saturday in 84 Lumber Arena in Pittsburgh to wrap up a series sweep of the Colonials. The Buckeyes (2-3-0, 0-0-0 B1G) topped RMU (0-4-1, 0-0-1 AHA) 5-3 in Columbus Friday night.

 

Ohio State will return to action Tuesday when it hosts Bowling Green in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes continue their busy slate, facing Minnesota Duluth in VCA Friday and Saturday. Puck drop each night is set for 7:05 p.m. The games open a seven-game homestand for the Buckeyes.

 

In the win, sophomores Sam Jardine and Anthony Greco each had two assists for the Buckeyes; it was the first two-point night for Jardine, while Greco had his second two-assist outing and fourth two-point game. Freshmen Nick Schilkey and Drew Brevig, sophomore Tyler Lundey and junior Justin DaSilva all scored for Ohio State. Freshman goalie Matt Tomkins had 21 saves for his second collegiate win.

 

Neither team scored in the first period. Ohio State controlled play, outshooting Robert Morris, 9-2, in the stanza.

 

The Buckeyes scored four goals in the second, including two on the power play, to take a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. Schilkey put Ohio State on the board just 17 seconds into the period, redirecting a shot by Jardine, with senior Alex Szczechura also picking up an assist. DaSilva made it 2-0 1:01 later when he scored from a sharp angle, assisted by junior Ryan Dzingel and Greco. Ohio State held the 2-0 advantage until freshman blueliner Brevig’s shot from the point got through traffic for his first career goal. Junior Max McCormick assisted on the goal, his team-best fifth assist of the year, which came at 13:03. With time winding down in the period and Ohio State on the power play, Jardine at the left side found Lundey just outside the crease, who put it home with the goalie not able to get into position. Greco also assisted on the tally, scored with 11 seconds remaining in the period. Ohio State continued to control play and outshot the Colonials, 23-10, in the stanza.

 

The Colonials cut the lead to 4-2 with goals at 2:23 and 4:07 of the third period and then made it a one-goal game on Zac Lynch’s power-play goal at 12:12 of the third. Ohio State was able to hold off the Colonials the rest of the way, including more than a minute with the RMU net empty, en route to the victory. Robert Morris outshot the Buckeyes, 12-9, in the period.

 

The Buckeyes had 41 shots on goal for the second night in a row, with Robert Morris putting 24 on net. Tomkins played all 60 minutes and had 21 saves for Ohio State, while RMU’s Terry Shafer making 37 saves in 58:55.

 

Ohio State converted 2-of-6 power play chances and Robert Morris was 1-for-3 with the man advantage.