Team meetings are usually called during a long losing skein or a stretch of poor play.
That’s just opposite for the streaking - in a good way - Ohio State hockey team, who defeated Lake Superior State 2-1 on Saturday in Value City Arena for its ninth straight win and 11th consecutive game (10-0-1) without a loss.
Chris Crane scored the winner at 6:59 of the third period as the No. 7 Buckeyes (12-3-1, 9-2-1-1 in the CCHA) moved five points ahead of Notre Dame in the standings while making a case to be top-ranked nationally next week.
Therein was the rub for coach Mark Osiecki. Even though OSU beat the 11th-ranked Lakers 5-2 on Friday something wasn’t right, thus the gathering Saturday morning.
“We had a good honest talk this morning, probably the first one since the first game at Notre Dame (Oct. 14),” he said. “Our guys responded well. They really did. They took the criticism/coaching well.
“We needed it. They were getting a little full of themselves. They were reading the situation where they’re at. Our bad habits we’re creeping in.”
Lake Superior (10-6-2, 6-5-1-1) took a 1-0 lead midway in the second period but Nick Oddo got the equalizer just 37 seconds later and afterward agreed with Osiecki that a stern chat was warranted.
“They’re completely honest with us,” he said of the coaches. “Everything they said is true. What happened last night, we didn’t play our best. This team is good at responding. We’ve done that all year.”
Cal Heeter had another strong game in goal for the fifth stingiest defense in the country with 29 saves although the Lakers got a break, literally to go up 1-0 when OSU defenseman Curtis Gedig broke his stick while trying to lead a rush out of the defensive zone.
Chris Ciotti took advantage of the loose puck and fired a quick shot that Heeter saved.
The Buckeyes’ troubles weren’t over, however, because Max McCormick’s clearance hit the back of Lakers forward Fred Cassiani. Ciotti again pounced on the puck and prepared to fire as Gedig, still without a twig, went for the block. The shot went through his legs and Heeter’s.
Back came the Buckeyes with defenseman Sean Duddy driving the puck toward the goal from the blueline. Kevin Murdock appeared to make the save but Tanner Fritz tried to poke in the rebound on the right side of the crease.
The puck slid across the goal line where Oddo had the tap-in before getting crushed.
“We went down 1-0 tonight,” Crane said. “We had to come back. Bottom line. We need to play Ohio state hockey no matter what.”
The scoreless first period was more to Lake Superior’s liking after following behind 2-0 through 20 minutes on Friday.
While there was a lot of skating and some solid checks neither team was able to generate prime scoring chances as the Buckeyes took 11 of the 20 shots.
What Lake Superior did well was clog the area in front of Murdock.
Lakers coach Jim Roque praised OSU after that game for its ability to score off rebounds, deflections and doggedness around the net. His team had a stellar first period in the rematch neutralizing the Buckeyes.
“We gave ourselves a chance to win on the road,” he said. “They made a play in third period and we didn’t. I have no complaints about my team at all. We played a very good road game.”
But it wasn’t enough to deny the Buckeyes.
“Ohio States mentality is first punch every period and Friday night we got off our game,” Crane said. “Saturday night I think we played first-punch periods all three periods.
“If we don’t come out and play our game, it’s college hockey, we will get beat,” he added. “It’s hard to win every night. For us to have the win streak we have right now is unbelievable.
“We’re not going to score pretty goals all the time. That’s not us. We’re not a Michigan that can go out and dangle.”
The Buckeyes host Miami on Friday at 7:05 p.m. then faces the RedHawks in Oxford, Ohio, on Dec. 10 in the last game before the holiday break.
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