As senior Andrew Wells said, don’t count Ohio out.
Multiple times on Sunday, it looked as if Ohio’s game against Jamestown would be its last. Ohio got behind early in the first period and trailed for nearly the final 12 minutes of the game. However, it never gave up and earned one of its most exciting wins of the season to advance to the American Collegiate Hockey Association tournament semifinals after scoring during the last second of regulation and in overtime.
Here are the numbers to know from Ohio’s 4-3 overtime win:
2
John McLaughlin scored Ohio’s first two goals of the game, and just his third and fourth goals of the season could not have come at a better time. The Jimmies scored twice in the first period, but McLaughlin kept the Bobcats from getting down 2-0 early with a goal 11:47 into the period.
He also scored the only goal for either team in the second period, which tied the game at two. However, his penalty in the third period led Jamestown’s go-ahead goal in the third.
.01
A fraction of a second. That’s how much time was left when Collin Felton scored the tying goal that sent the game into overtime. It was like a lifeboat for Ohio, who was seconds away from its national championship dreams being snatched away.
What made the goal even more dramatic was that it was initially ruled no good but then overturned. Had the call not been reviewed, Ohio’s season would be over.
3
Ohio normally does not fare well in overtime, as it has not won an overtime game in over three years. However, Sam Turner put an end to that when he sent the puck from almost center ice into the net. The goal came quick; less than five minutes into the overtime period.
When Turner scored, Hollander Thompson jumped to hug him, and all of Ohio skated onto the ice in celebration. It was an exciting moment for Ohio, one it will likely never forget.
5
What almost cost the game for the Bobcats was their five penalties. Felton was called for hooking 1:50 into the game, which led to Morgan Venne scoring Jamestown’s first goal a minute later on the powerplay. Jamestown also scored its third goal on the powerplay after McLaughlin was called for tripping.
Ohio has been able to get away with penalties in the past, especially against some of the ACHA’s weaker teams, but in the tournament, unnecessary time in the box is way more costly.
