by Mackenzie Mielke January 5, 2025
Sophomore forward Tanner Rowe stepped in as a defenseman for the No. 6 Michigan hockey team as defensive woes plagued its lineup. But even playing underhanded, its offensive comeback was enough to secure its first win in the new year.
Despite early defensive troubles, the Wolverines (12-7-1 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) best No. 13 Ohio State (14-5-1, 7-2) in a 3-2 win to split the series.
From the first puck drop, the Buckeyes dominated the ice with ease. Ohio State’s pressure in the neutral zone made it difficult for Michigan to clear pucks, as the Buckeyes tested graduate goaltender Logan Stein with three shots in the first two minutes. With the loss of two critical defensemen, freshman Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen and junior Tyler Duke, the Buckeyes began to capitalize on the lack of blue-line players.
Ohio State took its first power play opportunity to jump on the scoreboard against the Wolverines’ depleted defense. With 14 minutes left in the first period, an assist from the left boards landed on the stick of forward Gunnarwolfe Fontaine who notched the net-front goal. And just four minutes later, Fontaine repeated the success in taking the shot from a similar spot to push the Buckeyes to a two goal lead early on.
The Wolverines came in the second period looking for a reset and to find their offensive stride. Michigan increased its shot production keeping the puck in the offensive zone for more time, giving Stein and the defense a moment to breathe.
Ohio State succumbed to the new pressure taking a boarding penalty, alleviating the Wolverines’ defensive troubles long enough to make something happen.
Michigan peppered the goal with shots but Buckeyes goaltender Logan Terness deflected shot after shot. The Wolverines kept the puck in constant motion looking for their gap when freshman forward Michael Hage sent a pass to sophomore forward Evan Werner. From the left faceoff circle, Werner on a one-timer slapshot found a sliver of space to grab Michigan’s first goal of the game.
Going into the third period, the Wolverines had momentum on their side and pelted seven shots in the first three minutes. In the beginning of the game, Michigan was fighting to disrupt Ohio State’s offense with a thinned out defense. But with the Wolverines’ push in the second period fueling them, their offense was looking for the opportunity to overcome their first-period struggles and tie the game up.
In a similar fashion to Werner’s slight opening, sophomore forward William Whitelaw saw his chance after picking up the puck immediately off the faceoff. With a tiny gap between Terness and the goal, Whitelaw found his spot in the back of the net.
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During the final minutes of the game, the Buckeyes took control of the neutral zone once again to gain a few breakaways. Michigan kept strong even with the drained defense to limit Ohio State’s looks as Stein kept up with consistent saves to push to overtime.
But similar to overtime games before, the Wolverines didn’t need more than a mere minute to finish the game. Senior defenseman Ethan Edwards sent the puck to junior forward Jackson Hallum coming in hot on the right side to put away the game.
Though Michigan’s defense remains thin moving forward, its offensive strength solved the problem for tonight.
