The injured Bobcats earned the weekend sweep over the Panthers using two stout performances from their backup goaltenders.
Cody Black was all smiles just minutes after Ohio earned the weekend sweep over Pittsburgh.
After all, the freshman forward from Wexford, Pennsylvania, just 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, had some bragging rights to take care of.
After being given his goal puck by a young fan, Black skated across the ice to say hello to his Pittsburgh friends.
“I’m gonna let them know about it," Black said laughing. "That’s for sure.”
Of course it wasn’t just Black who was smiling and hugging after Saturday’s game, as Bobcats defeated Pittsburgh on Friday and Saturday by identical scores of 4-1.
Ohio used junior goalies Ryan Heltion and Jacob Bloomfield on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to get the weekend sweep.
“I thought Bloomer was good in net," coach Sean Hogan said. "Helly was good last night, they gave us chances to win.”
Neither Heltion nor Bloomfield had started a game since the new year, but both only allowed one goal each in their respective starts. It was just Bloomfield’s fourth start of the season, and Heltion’s eighth.
“It’s more mental than anything, you practice every day and your body usually stays in good physical shape,” Heltion said. “When it comes down to preparing for a game, it’s more mental, so I took a little bit of extra time today, focused up.”
Bloomfield also said that playing in his first game since Dec. 12, it was more mental trying to shake off the rust than anything else.
“It just comes with coming to practice everyday, and knowing you’re going to get an opportunity eventually, just building on everything that gives you confidence” Bloomfield said.
The Bobcats rode the two goaltenders and their one goal performances to the weekend sweep.
Ohio would fall behind Saturday night, but eventually rally with the strength of the power play, scoring two goals late in the first period with the man-advantage to reclaim the lead.
Adding one more in the second and third periods each, the Bobcats earned the sweep.
“We weren’t great in practice this week, we looked tired,” Hogan said. “The thing is we won both games, probably could’ve been a little more."
Friday’s matchup was a bit more comfortable for the Bobcats, as they would jump out to a 4-0 lead, before surrendering a breakaway goal in the final minutes to the Panthers.
Ohio was fighting the injury bug on numerous fronts, which led to putting freshman Tom Pokorney, normally a defenseman, at forward for the weekend.
“He’s a forward," Hogan said. "We tried to convert him to D. I think long-term, Tommy has a chance to be real good for us, just positionally he needs to be a little stronger.”
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With only two weeks left before the Central States Collegiate Hockey League playoffs, and two critical series coming up before that, the Bobcats will try to heal quickly, with the top of the standings now in sight.
We have a chance to win the CSCHL now, because Lindenwood lost last night,” Hogan said. “We just have to get it done.”
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