Michigan hockey loses 3-2 in OT after Ohio State ties game in final seconds of regulation
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State senior Sergio Somma's goal with 10.4 seconds left in the third period tied the score and the Buckeyes scored in overtime for a 3-2 win over Michigan Friday night at Value City Arena.
With the Ohio State net empty and Michigan protecting a 2-1 lead, the Wolverines' David Wohlberg took a cross-checking penalty that gave the Buckeyes a 6-on-4 advantage with 47 seconds left to play.
Somma backhanded in a rebound of a Curtis Gedig shot to tie the game. In overtime, Peter Boyd passed from the wall to freshman Alex Szczechura in the slot for the game winner 1:43 into the extra session.
"I kind of just got it off. I was not really aiming," Szczechura said. "I was just trying to get it on net and it happened to go in."
According to MGoBlue.com, Michigan missed on multiple empty-net chances from center ice before the penalty.
"Surprisingly, I thought we played a good game until the last two minutes when we had to play in our own zone and we got ourselves shorthanded," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"It's a travesty to even give up the tie, let alone the win. That's just poor accountability on our part, but good for them and a good home ice victory. For us to give up the lead late in the game is unacceptable."
Michigan (8-5-4, 7-3-1-1 CCHA) completes a weekend series with Ohio State (6-7-1, 3-5-1-1) at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
Following Friday night's scoreless first period, John Albert scored at 4:34 of the second period to give Ohio State a 1-0 lead. Michigan answered two minutes later with a power-play goal by freshman defenseman Jon Merrill.
Senior center Louie Caporusso gave Michigan a 2-1 lead midway through the third period.
But instead of being the Wolverines' game-winner, Caporusso goal only set up a hearbreaking loss.
"You never want to end a game like that. When you are up with 10 seconds to go, you need to be able to put the game away," Caporusso said told OhioStateBuckeyes.com. "All it took was a bad two minutes of play, and now we're walking off the ice losers instead of winners."