Release provided by Ohio State University.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 16 Ohio State men’s hockey team lost to No. 10 Notre Dame, 3-2, Saturday in Value City Arena. The Buckeyes scored the final two goals, including an extra attacker score with less than two minutes remaining, but could not complete the rally. The Irish (6-3-1, 2-0-0-0 B1G) pick up the sweep of the Big Ten series over the Buckeyes (5-3-2, 1-3-0-0 B1G).

For the second night in a row, the Buckeyes and Irish were scoreless in the first period. The teams combined for just 10 shots on goal, with the Irish ahead, 6-4. Each team had one power play chance.

Notre Dame opened the scoring late in the second period. After a standout stick save from Buckeye goalie Sean Romeo on a two-on-one, the Irish were able to get one by after the ensuing faceoff, with Cal Burke scoring from up high. Ohio State had 13 chances in the period and the Irish put nine shots on net. The Buckeyes were 2-for-2 on the penalty kill in the period and had one power play chance.

In the third period, with two goals in 34 seconds, the Irish extended the lead to 3-0. With the teams skating 4-on-4, Dylan Mamlquist scored from the far post off a pass from Andrew Peeke at 6:14. Four seconds after the teams returned to 5-on-5, Jake Evans scored from a sharp angle at 6:48.

Ohio State then mounted a comeback. On a power play chance that started at 10:58, the Buckeyes pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and junior Mason Jobst took advantage, scoring from the faceoff dot at 12:22. Dakota Joshua and Matt Miller assisted on the goal. Starting with 4:39 remaining, Ohio State again skated with the extra attacker. At 18:05 Joshua made it a one-goal game, knocking the puck out of mid-air and in right in front of the net. Tanner Laczynski had the assist on the goal. In all, the Buckeyes put 24 shots on net in the third but ND goalie Cale Morris held strong to close out the game. The Irish had eight shots in the stanza. Ohio State had the only two power plays in the period, converting once.

For the game, the Buckeyes outshot the Irish, 41-23. Romeo played 46:37 for Ohio State and had 18 saves. He is 10th nationally with a 1.82 goals-against average. Freshman Tommy Nappier came on in relief in the third period, marking his first collegiate action. He had two saves in 7:59. Morris ended the game with 39 saves for the Irish. Ohio State has not allowed more than 27 shots on goal this season and is first in the NCAA in shots allowed per game (22.2).

The Buckeyes blocked 12 Irish shot attempts, led by Sasha Larocque and Miller with three each and Michael Rounds with two. Notre Dame had 18 shot blocks. Larocque is in the Top 10 in the NCAA with 2.8 blocks per game and leads the Buckeyes with 28.

The Buckeyes were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill for the second night in a row. The squad is 33-for-36 (.917) on the year. Ohio State was 1-for-4 on the power play in the game.

Jobst and Laczynski share the Buckeye scoring lead with 10 points each. Jobst has a team-high five goals and Laczynski is first with seven assists. Joshua had his first two-point game of the season; he has a 2-4-6 line this year.

Postgame Quotes
Steve Rohlik, Ohio State head coach
On the series with Notre Dame
“Well, the good part is we expect to be in those games, and we expect to win those games. That is the culture these guys have created. They expect to win every time they touch the ice. The disappointing thing is that we just didn’t finish.”

On keys to success moving forward
“I don’t know if there’s one key. I just know that the one thing for us is we have to be consistent from start to finish for 60 minutes. I love what I see in my team and I love the heart we have. We have that never quit attitude.”

Dakota Joshua, Ohio State junior forward
On scoring on the power play
“It was important for us coming in today to get it set up in the zone. Yesterday, we had a hard time breaking into the zone and establishing pressure. Today we did that and the bounces go your way sometimes and sometimes they don’t. Today we got a bounce."

Tanner Laczynski, Ohio State sophomore forward
On not being able to generate a lot of offense
“Their goalie played really well this weekend, but I think it’s kind of on us forwards. We have to get to the dirty areas and we have to work on that. As you saw on the 6-on-5, when we get guys in front and cause havoc, good things will happen and bounces will go our way.”