GBMWolverine
Fansided

Michigan hockey: Big Ten Title on the line against Ohio State

By Christopher Mangum

DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 17: Nolan Moyle #27 of the Michigan Wolverines skates up ice with the puck against the Michigan State Spartans during the first period of the annual NCAA hockey game, Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena on February 17, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 4-1. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 17: Nolan Moyle #27 of the Michigan Wolverines skates up ice with the puck against the Michigan State Spartans during the first period of the annual NCAA hockey game, Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena on February 17, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 4-1. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

This weekend, Michigan hockey will take on Ohio State in a home series that will likely determine the winner of the 2021-22 Big Ten regular-season title. With the season on the line, the Wolverines must deliver.

Friday night, Michigan hockey will face-off against the Buckeyes, whom they are 1-1 against on the season, in the first game of a two-game series. The games will both be played at Yost Ice Arena, and will likely determine who can call themselves Big Ten Champions this season.

Michigan hockey is currently ranked No. 2 in the country after a pair of wins over Michigan State last weekend. So far, the Wolverines are 23-7-1 overall and 14-6 in the Big Ten. Michigan also sits atop the Big Ten standings with 46 points this season.

Related Story. Michigan hockey at Penn State recap. light

Tied for second place in the Big Ten is No. 11 Ohio State with 43 points. The Buckeyes are 21-9-2 on the year and 13-7-2 in the Big Ten and are gunning for Michigan’s No. 1 position in the conference.

The Wolverines are missing their four best skaters due to the Olympics. These four skaters are Canadians Owen Power and Kent Johnson, and Americans Brendan Brisson and Matty Beniers. Though the loss of these four players did not impact the Wolverines against Michigan State last weekend (Michigan took both games in blowout fashion), the Buckeyes are a much better team.

This weekend’s match-up should be a hard-hitting Big Ten showdown as both teams crave a Big Ten Championship, and will see a sold-out arena both nights.

To close out the season, the Wolverines will face Notre Dame, whom Michigan is 0-2 against this season, with both losses coming in overtime. The Fighting Irish are in fourth place in the Big Ten race and are not considered a threat to any of the top-three team’s placement in the conference.

The only way Notre Dame could impact Michigan’s Big Ten title hopes would be if the Wolverines needed wins over a conference opponent if they lose their first-place ranking. Right now, Michigan needs to focus on defeating the Buckeyes before looking ahead to Notre Dame the following weekend.

The last time Michigan faced the Buckeyes was in early December of 2021, and the story was quite similar.

The Wolverines split their first series with Ohio State, even without many of their top players due to the World Juniors Tournament. This weekend, Michigan will need to do more than just split their second series with the Buckeyes in order to comfortably win a Big Ten championship.

Next. Michigan football: three freshman who can start in 2022. dark

Home/Big Ten News