As the Bobcats train for the start of the ACHA National Tournament, they will have to wait to find out who their first opponent will be.
Ohio will play the winner of the Oklahoma vs. Pittsburgh game, which will be played March 9 at 2:00 p.m. in Columbus.
Here’s what the Ohio hockey beat writers have to say about the potential matchups against each team:
Scouting Oklahoma (16-8-5)
No. 14 Oklahoma finished its season Feb. 11, which means it will have had almost a full month to prepare for its matchup against Pittsburgh.
In an odd schedule setup, the Sooners played at home in just three of their 16 games since mid-November. They finished the season by losing back-to-back games to No. 4 Central Oklahoma.
The Sooners’ regular schedule featured four teams in the national tournament, including Central Oklahoma, No. 6 Lindenwood, No. 10 Arizona State and No. 12 Colorado. Their collective record against those teams was 5-7-2.
The only common opponent between Ohio and Oklahoma was Lindenwood. Ohio went 2-0-1 against the Lions, while Oklahoma went 2-1-1. The Bobcats and Sooners have not played since Feb. 2015, in which Oklahoma won once in regulation and once in overtime at Bird Arena.
Scouting Pittsburgh (23-11)
In Pittsburgh’s last game on Feb. 26, it lost to John Carroll, which Ohio swept and outscored 20-0 in two games.
The Panthers started the season 17-2, albeit against less than steep competition. They played two team in the national tournament. Pitt was just 1-3 in those games, splitting a series with the No. 20 seed Drexel and being beaten badly in both games by No. 3 Ohio.
One common opponent between the Bobcats and Panthers was Kent State. The Bobcats swept Kent, but Pitt lost both games to the Golden Flashes and was outscored by seven goals.
It’s difficult to see Pittsburgh getting by Oklahoma.
Staff prediction
Jordan Horrobin: Ohio’s double overtime loss to a red-hot Lindenwood team isn’t too surprising or concerning. I think the Bobcats get through Oklahoma/Pittsburgh easily, then beat Lindenwood before dropping a one-goal game to No. 5 Iowa State/No. 4 Central Oklahoma. Ohio went 1-3 against Iowa State, the Central States Collegiate Hockey League tournament champion, this season. My prediction for the finals is No. 2 Adrian College over Iowa State/Central Oklahoma.
Spencer Holbrook: The Bobcats' three-game losing streak against two of the best teams in the country isn’t alarming, but it might be enough to slow the team down. Ohio will beat Oklahoma/Pittsburgh by multiple goals and then get revenge on Lindenwood. In the semifinal, I think Iowa State will slip past Ohio in a close game on its way to an ACHA National Championship.
