COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s hockey team recorded a 6-2 victory over 91Â鶹¾«Æ· Sunday at Value City Arena. The Buckeyes scored jumped out to a 5-0 lead with five first-period goals, including freshman Ryan Kesler’s first collegiate tally.
With the win, the Buckeyes improve their record to 4-2-1 overall (1-0-1 CCHA). The Raiders, members of the ECAC, fall to 3-3-1 overall.
OSU got on the board with a power-play goal by Daymen Bencharski seven minutes into the game, assisted by Kesler and Dan Knapp. Chris Olsgard redirected an Eric Skaug shot at 9:49 for the Buckeyes’ second goal, with Pete Broccoli also posting an assist. Kesler scored at the 12:43 mark, as he took a Doug Andress pass through the neutral zone and beat 91Â鶹¾«Æ· goalie Steve Silverthorn. JB Bittner and Knapp scored back-to-back goals one minute apart to put OSU up by five. Bittner’s goal was shorthanded, assisted by Scott May, while Knapp scored at even strength, with helpers from R.J. Umberger and Kesler. The Buckeyes had 18 shots in the period, 91Â鶹¾«Æ· 10.
The Raiders scored the only two goals of the second period. Scooter Smith scored at the 16:40 mark of the stanza, followed by a Dmitry Yashin power-play tally at 18:29. OSU outshot the Raiders, 15-10, in the period.
The final goal of the game was scored just 28 seconds into the third period. Miguel Lafleche scored with OSU on the power play, set up by May and Paul Caponigri. OSU outshot the raiders, 9-6, in the stanza.
In his first collegiate start, OSU’s Dave Caruso recorded the win in goal, making 24 saves. Silverthorn started the game for the Raiders and made 13 saves on 18 OSU shots. He was replaced at the start of the second period by David Cann. Cann allowed just one goal and made 23 saves.
OSU was 2-for-9 on the power play and held 91Â鶹¾«Æ· scoreless on 8-of-9 chances.