The Lindenwood Lions men’s ice hockey team lost 5-2 against the #14 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in a two-game series at the Centene Community Ice Center on Nov. 15.
In the first 90 seconds of the game, the Lions won the opening faceoff and quickly transitioned into Lindenwood Lions hockey.
Lions defenseman Joe Prouty had a great shot early in the first period, but the shot was wide of the net, keeping the score at 0-0.
“I liked our start,” Lindenwood men’s ice hockey head coach Bill Muckalt said. “We’re always trying to emulate the National Hockey League. Anytime we can try to emulate that and the skill development is geared towards that,”
In the opening period, the Lions turned over the puck to the Buckeyes who had multiple bursts of momentum, but Lindenwood would eventually regain puck control and had a great scoring chance from Shawn Ramsey, but his shot was saved by Buckeyes goaltender Kristoffer Eberly.
As time winded down in the opening period the Buckeyes managed to get past the Lions’ defense to get their first scoring chance of the game, but shot was saved by Lions goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz.
As play progressed, the Lions played smart hockey and played physically, as both teams had good scoring chances, but went into the second period tied 0-0. A Lions penalty at the end of the period would give the Buckeyes a power play to start the second period.
To begin the second period, the Lions came out strong as they won the opening faceoff against the Buckeyes despite being down a player. The Buckeyes almost made the 1-0 but a diving save from Bartoszkiewicz still made the game 0-0.
After the diving save, the Lions’ continued added pressure on the Buckeyes led to their first goal of the game, scored by forward Jake Southgate.
“It was good to get the first goal,” Muckalt said.
Throughout the second period, the Lions continued their pressure on the Buckeyes, but that pressure faded when Ohio State tied the game 1-1 on a goal that was scored by Gunnarwolfe Fontaine.
Despite continued defensive pressure from the Lions, the Buckeyes managed to score once more in the second period. Fontaine found the back of the net in the eighth minute to break one goal tie, giving Ohio State a 2-1 lead.
Later in the second, the Lions they took a penalty, causing them to go on to the penalty kill. Throughout the second period, the Lions continued to take penalties which allowed the Buckeyes every chance to score a goal, and they did. The third Buckeyes goal of the evening was scored by Riley Thompson.
More turnovers as the period went on led to another Buckeyes goal scored by Noah Powell as the Lions entered the third period with a 4-1 deficit.
“The second period was tough,” Muckalt said. “We had too many penalties and a couple of breakdowns in our structure and [the Buckeyes] capitalized on it.”
As the third period began, the Lions won the opening faceoff and immediately got another shot on goal from Prouty.
As the third period progressed, the Lions went to the power play, just when the Lions needed to come back in the game. The Lions found the back of the net to draw the three goal deficit down to two, the second Lions goal was scored by David Gagnon.
Just when the comeback for the Lions looked feasible, the Buckeyes made the game a three goal deficit again, with the fifth Buckeyes goal scored by Thompson, who got his second goal of the night. Ohio State would go on to win game one of the series by a score of 5-2.
“The execution is what needs to improve a little bit,” Muckalt said. “The recipe is to stay ahead of the penalty box. We can’t be giving up odd number rushes.” – Caleb Woods
On Saturday, in game two against the Buckeyes, the Lions would come out fast and score at 1:38 of the opening period. The goal was scored by Jaeden Mercier, and assisted by Thomas Jarman and Southgate. At 12:03 of the period, the Buckeyes would tie the game at one with a power play goal. The game would stay tied at one heading into the second period, with the Buckeyes outshooting the Lions 12-5 in the period.
In the second period, Ohio State would take their first lead of the game with a goal at 6:45. However at 13:07 the Lions would tie the game at two, thanks to another goal, this time on a power play of their own, scored by Mercier, his second of the afternoon. That goal was assisted by both Gagnon and Noah Houle. The Buckeyes would take their one goal lead back just 39 seconds later, putting the score at 3-2 heading into the third period. The Lions outshot the Buckeyes 13-6 in the second.
The third period saw both teams held scoreless, meaning the Buckeyes would win the game 3-2 despite a really good effort from the Lions. The Lions outshot the Buckeyes 10-5 in the third period and 28-23 in the game despite the loss. Lions goalie Henry Graham stopped 20 of the 23 shots faced in the loss.
After getting swept the Lions now sit with a record of 2-9-1 on the season. The Lions continue their homestand next weekend, when they take on Stonehill College Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 at Centene Community Ice Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri. – Lucas Dalton
