At the barn in Columbus last night, in front of about 600 people (wouldn't that
attendence figure look strange in a 21,000-seat arena :-), the opening of the
era in OSU hockey without Jerry Welsh looked an awful lot like...well, OSU
hockey with Jerry Welsh--to no one's surprise.
 
The Buckeyes allowed a shorthanded goal at 1:26 of the first followed by a
power play goal at 4:45 and never really got back on track again.  The short
handed goal increases their league lead in sh goals allowed in what I think is
about the 15th allowed by the team this season.  After going down 3-0 at 2:15
of the second, the Bucks scored off a face-off at 5:50 and seemed to be putting
some cohesive offensive threats together.  However, the face-off following that
goal saw Jeff Winters make a lazy pass in his own zone for OSU...Hunt from FSU
one timed it between the legs of a somewhat surprised Tom Askey at 5:58 of the
second.
 
From there on out, the Bucks just didn't seem to have much in them...although
in all fairness to them, they had their chances to get back in it and did
outhit and outhustle FSU in the first ten minutes of the third.  They created a
few odd-man rushes, but when they were not hitting the post or missing the open
net entirely, FSU's Blashill was robbing them with great saves.
 
Tom Askey played a great game in net for the Bucks stopping 52 of 56 shots
facing 43 of those shots in the first two periods.  Blashill finished with 33
saves on 34 shots.  If there had been any hope of a late rally, OSU once again
showed the lack of discipline that I have always believed was a sign of the
poor coaching that led me to call for Welsh's firing since I arrived in
Columbus four years ago and thus took themselves out of the latter part of the
game.  In the final 12 minues, the Bucks took a five minute major on a needless
hitting from behind penalty and a two minute minor for roughing.
 
John Markell goes to 0-1-0 as a head coach. The amusing, though somewhat harsh
side note to the game last night was when the glass came out of one of the
panels along the far boards.  The rink announcer called for the ice crew and
someone in the stands yelled, "Call Jerry, he's free tonight!"
 
OSU and FSU play again tonight at the Barn at 7pm.
 
 
 
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        *        Dave [log in to unmask]         *
        *                  Cornell '91 OSU Med '95                     *
        *       Nothing good ever comes of a conversation that         *
        *        starts with the words, "Remember the patient          *
        *                 you sent home last night?"                   *
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