Around the Big Ten (Hockey): November 18

Story posted November 18, 2021 in CommRadio, Sports by Maclain Young

The top programs in the Big Ten are starting to make their marks as teams are knee deep into conference play at this point in the season.

No. 17 Ohio State shocked No. 7 Minnesota this past weekend when they came back from three goals down to defeat the Golden Gophers 4-3. Not only did the Buckeyes pull off four unanswered goals against a top ten team in the nation on the road, they also did so in regulation.

Sophomore forward Joe Dunlap scored the game winning goal which was his second of the season. The Buckeyes ultimately split their series in Minneapolis.

As for the Golden Gophers, a series sweep narrowly escaped their grasp. After dominating the first period of game one against Ohio State, Minnesota lost its grip and lost the opener.

In game two, the Golden Gopher’s defense clamped up and held the Buckeye’s offense to just 13 shots leading to a shutout victory for veteran goaltender Jack LaFontaine.

Ohio State will try to keep climbing the rankings when it takes on Mercyhurst for an out of conference battle.
Next up for the Golden Gophers is a series with a Penn State team that is 0-4 in conference play since upsetting North Dakota in Nashville.

In Happy Valley, Michigan showed why they are the most talented team in the nation when they dominated Penn State in a series sweep.

Michigan’s star players shined throughout the series with 2021 top two overall draft selections Owen Power and Matty Beniers recording six points each over the weekend. They were credited with Big Ten first and second star of the week honors.

For Beniers, it is his second straight week as the Big Ten’s number one star as he increased his season point total to 15 in just 10 games. The sophomore forward has nine goals to go along with six assists.

Michigan now holds the number one ranking in the country and will look to defend its claim in a clash with No. 14 Notre Dame this weekend.

The Fighting Irish shrugged off rival Wisconsin in their previous series, outscoring the Badgers 8-1 over their two-game series.

Senior goaltender Matthew Galajda earned Big Ten third star of the week honors after stopping 46 straight Wisconsin shots after the Badgers lone goal in the series came on their first shot.

Like Penn State, Wisconsin has had a brutal start to conference play, going 1-4-1 against other Big Ten teams.

The Badgers are looking to bounce back against a stingy Michigan State team that is coming off a sweep of Ferris State.

The Spartans have also not been great in conference play so far with just a 1-3 record, so both Michigan State and Wisconsin will have a chance to get out of the mud with a series sweep.


Maclain Young is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email macyoung21@gmail.com.