Wolverines thrash Buckeyes Friday night at Yost (with photos)

Photos by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey 

By @MichaelCaples –

ANN ARBOR – The Ohio State Buckeyes played all three goaltenders on the dress list.

It was that kind of night for the visitors.

The Michigan Wolverines scored eight goals on their Big Ten rival Friday night at Yost Ice Arena, picking up a lopsided 8-3 win in their only game of the weekend.

Andrew Copp and Alex Kile both scored two, while Zach Hyman, Zach Werenski, Travis Lynch and Tony Calderone also found the back of the net for Michigan. Tyler Motte recorded four assists in the contest, as well.

Five of those goals came in the second period, as the Wolverines seized control in the middle frame. Despite only out-shooting the Buckeyes 11-9 in the second, the Wolverines capitalized on almost half of their shots on goal – three of which in a 3:28 span starting at the 4:17 mark of the period. Both of Kile’s goals came on the same power play, after OSU’s Nick Oddo was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for head-butting UM defenseman Cutler Martin.

“We’re getting better offensively, and we’re getting better in the offensive zone and getting better in defensive zone, not spending as much time in our zone,” coach Red Berenson said. “Penalty killing is getting better and our PP is getting better, and I think our defense is getting better, and our forward lines are starting to show some offensive danger. They are good with the puck, and we have four lines that have a chance to score.”

Zach Nagelvoort picked up the win for the Wolverines – his sixth of the season. Steve Racine played the majority of the third period for UM.

Marysville native Nick Schilkey – the only Buckeye hailing from Michigan – scored the visitors’ second goal of the game, finishing off a two-on-none rush with a deke to his backhand a shot past Nagelvoort.

The win improves Michigan’s record to 8-6-0 on the season, and 2-1-0-0 in Big Ten play. They will travel to Boston College for one game out east next weekend, then have 15 days off before the start of the Great Lakes Invitational.

Ironically, the Buckeyes were the first team to the scoresheet, when Matt Johnson beat Nagelvoort from below the left face-off circle at the 10:04 mark of the first period.

Hyman scored to tie the game just 2:45 later, taking a shot that bounced up in the air off the OSU netminder but still found its way to the back of the net.

Werenski scored to give the Wolverines the lead for the first time at the 19:48 mark of the opening frame, burying a wrist shot shortly after a face-off in the Buckeyes’ zone.