Ohio State splits series with That Team Up North on the ice

In a big weekend for hockey in the Buckeye State, especially against teams from up north. The Blue Jackets beat the Red Wings twice, first in Detroit and second in Ohio Stadium on Saturday. The Big Ten and Ohio State missed an opportunity to see about having one of these games in the Horseshoe as the Jackets and Wings did, but that's another story. While the professional Ohio team won both games, the Buckeyes split their series against the maize and blue this week.

They had split the previous series and finished the year 2-2 against each other. In game one, they won 4-3 at Wrigley Field. They lost 3-2 in overtime in game two in Ann Arbor. On Thursday night in Columbus, the Buckeyes won 2-1 in overtime.

Friday, the Buckeye comeback fell short 4-3. It was a knife fight of a battle between these rivals this year. it shows how this Buckeye hockey program is in good hands and on the right path to building a perennial top-10 team.

Ohio State has already eclipsed their numbers from all of last season and in four fewer games. The Buckeyes have 10 more goals (110-100), more goals per game (3.2 to 2.6), and a better shot percentage (.108 to .082). Steve Rohlik has improved his Buckeyes and has them poised for a better postseason and a return to the NCAA Tournament.

The series finished the regular season for the 8th-ranked Buckeyes. They unfortunately lost three of their final four games. But Ohio State is 21-11-2 on the season and finished in second place in the Big Ten, just ahead of their rival from up north (#2 Minnesota and #3 Michigan State tied for first place and are co-champions).

Ohio State secured the third seed in the Big Ten tournament and will play Wisconsin at home in a three-game series in the opening round. The Buckeyes are 13-3-1 at home this year and played well against the Badgers. Ohio State swept Wisconsin, going 4-0 against them in the regular season. The Buckeyes won by a combined 12-5. The Badgers were 12-19-3 this season.