Columbus, Ohio – The Canisius College hockey team nearly rallied from a three-goal third-period deficit at Ohio State on Saturday afternoon but in the end, the Buckeyes pulled out a 6-4 victory thanks to solid special teams on the day. The loss drops the Griffs to 2-7-0 on the season, while the Buckeyes won their third-straight contest to improve to 3-7-0.
“We played hard and battled back but three power play goals and an empty-net tally is too much to overcome against a team like Ohio State,” said Canisius head coach. “We will continue to work and be ready to return to conference play next weekend against Mercyhurst.”
Senior Ralph Cuddemi (Concord, Ontario), junior Shane Conacher (Burlington, Ontario) and freshmen Cameron Heath (Troy, Mich.) and Daniel LaFontaine (Lloyd Harbor, N.Y.) each tallied goals for the Griffs.
Sophomore Reilly Turner (Temiscaming, Quebec) took the loss between the pipes, recording 35 saves.
The Griffs struck first in the contest thanks to Cuddemi’s fifth goal of the season just 3:29 into the contest. The senior captain gained possession of the puck and skated into the Ohio State zone on a 3-on-2 rush. Cuddemi’s shot went wide but deflected off the boards, hit the Buckeyes goalie and went into the net. Sophomore Ryan Schmelzer (Buffalo, N.Y.) also registered an assist on the game’s opening goal.
The Buckeyes, however, answered back with three-straight tallies to take the lead for good. Mason Jobst got Ohio State on the board just 69 seconds following Cuddemi’s goal, taking possession of the puck and driving toward the net before finishing for his second goal of the season.
Ohio State then added two power-play goals 96 seconds apart for a 3-1 lead. Matthew Weis scored from close range with 12:25 remaining in the period before Nick Schilkey finished from the top of the right face-off circle top shelf with 10:49 left in the frame.
Heath pulled the Griffs within one, netting his first collegiate goal just 43 seconds following the Buckeyes most recent tally. The rookie defender sent a shot in from the point off passes from Conacher and Cuddemi for the 3-2 score with 10:06 remaining in the first.
Canisius then had a great opportunity to knot the game at three when the Buckeyes were whistled for a five-minute major with 8:03 left in the opening frame. Canisius, however, was only able to get two shots on net during the penalty and was held off the scoreboard as the Buckeyes entered the first intermission with a 3-2 advantage.
The Buckeyes took advantage in the second period and added to their lead. David Gust doubled the Ohio State edge 5:43 into the period when he knocked in the team’s second rebound attempt for a 4-2 lead.
Ohio State then added a third power-play goal on the day when Craig Dalrymple’s shot from the point made its way into the net after a couple deflections in front, giving the Buckeyes a 5-2 lead with 4:00 left in the second period.
LaFontaine closed the gap in the third frame with his second goal of the season with 13:52 remaining in the period. From behind the net, freshman Dylan McLaughlin (Lancaster, N.Y.) bounced the puck off the boards behind him and to his classmate on the backdoor. LaFontaine finished with the open look on net for the 5-3 score. Senior defender Mathew Backhouse (Thompson, Manitoba) also registered an assist on the tally to pull Canisius within two.
Conacher then cut the Canisius deficit to just one with 8:46 left in the game. Off an offensive zone faceoff victory by Schmelzer, Cuddemi sent the puck to the slot from behind the net. Conacher finished with the open look for his fifth goal of the season and brought the Griffs within one, 5-4.
The Griffs, however, were unable to find the equalizing tally in the final eight-plus minutes, falling just short of the comeback. Ohio State added an empty-net goal with 30.4 seconds remaining for the 6-4 final score.
Ohio State owned a 41-26 advantage in shots on the night and won the special-teams thanks to three power-play goals (on six attempts) and killing all six Canisius power plays.
The Griffs return to Atlantic Hockey action next weekend with a pair of home games against Mercyhurst. The schools begin the two-game series at HARBORCENTER on Friday at 7:35 p.m.
Game Notes: Canisius scored more first-period goals on Saturday (2) than in its first eight games combined (1) … The Griffs have tallied more goals in the third period (10) than in the first and second periods combined (8) … Canisius has allowed three first-period goals in five of its seven losses this season … The Griffs allowed three power-play goals in a game for the first time since Jan. 25, 2014 against Mercyhurst … The Griffs top line of Conacher, Cuddemi and Schmelzer have now accounted for 77.8 percent of the team’s goals this season, either scoring or assisting on 14-of-18 tallies … Canisius is now 0-9-1 all-time against teams from the Big Ten, including a 0-5-1 mark against Ohio State.
