With the Bobcats' own ice area still undergoing maintenance work, the team moved their previously scheduled home game in Athens to Columbus in the Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena, where they put up an impressive 10 points against the Wolverines in a two-game series.
Ohio would go on to win both games, one coming in overtime, improving its record to 8-2 on the season.
Friday
Although the first period did not see any points on the board from either team, it did see the first penalties of the game. Michigan defender Adam Kolcon was ejected after getting into an altercation with Ohio goalie Matthew Zazon, and Ohio center Salvatore Poggiali also received a penalty during the time for roughing, creating four-on-four action.
With 0:43 left in the first, Ohio ramped up its play with a face-off in front of Michigan’s bench. Despite being unable to make one in, Ohio forward Nick Coward had a big hit against Michigan's Brandan Stabnick before the clock ran out.
The second period started slow, with only a few shots on goal from both teams. With 7:08 to go, Ohio, on a power play, scored the first point of the game after Peyton Botich sunk one in. Only a minute later, Michigan answered back and scored its first point with 6:06 to go, bringing the score to 1-1.
At the 3:34 mark in the final minutes of the second period, Botich once again scored for the Bobcats off of a deflection from his teammate and put the team up 2-1 against the Wolverines going into the third period.
Michigan looked to make the first move of the third period when forward Cody Nielsen scored and once again tied the game at 2-2. Ohio had several opportunities to score with power plays at the 11:57 and 1:52 marks but came up short, sending the team to sudden-death overtime.
After going back and forth with shots on goal, an opportunity came knocking for Ohio when Poggiali scored his ninth goal of the season and first of the game to give Ohio the first win of the series.
Saturday
After an exciting overtime win the previous night, Ohio looked to continue the momentum and started strong with a goal from forward Holden Wilpula at the 12:05 mark. This goal set the tone for the rest of the game, as Ohio would put up six more against Michigan.
The second period saw the majority of the action as Ethan Tamborski put up back-to-back goals, his second and third of the season, to give the Bobcats a 3-0 lead with 12:05 to go.
Halfway through the second period, Ohio centers Poggiali and Brandon Walker added to the Bobcats' dominating performance to extend the team's lead to 5-0.
As the clock continued to wind down, Michigan found itself in a tough spot when several penalties led to five-on-three action against them; however, Michigan pulled through and scored its first point of the game with 0:23 to go in the second. The goal was scored by defenseman Evan Fitzgerald.
The Bobcats looked to put the game away in the third period. Coward scored the team's fifth goal of the game and his third of the season. The team continued to stifle Michigan as Zazon saved several attempts on goal from Michigan in the minutes following.
With half of the period remaining, Michigan went down a player. Connolly was ejected from the game, and a five-minute major penalty was served alongside it. This penalty gave Ohio another opportunity to strike on a power play, and it did, as Walker scored his second goal of the game and pushed the lead to 7-1 over Michigan.
As the clock continued to run down, there was back-and-forth play between the teams but neither could find the net as tough defensive play from both sides proved to make things a challenge. At the 3:50 mark, it was mere consolation as Michigan's Kolcon put one in the net to bring the score to 7-2, and Ohio celebrated as the horn sounded to give them a 2-0 series win over the previously 5-1 Michigan.
Looking ahead, Ohio will take on the University of Cincinnati Oct. 25. The game will be played at the OhioHealth Ice Haus and will start at 8:20 p.m. The Bearcats caused the Bobcats' first loss of the season, 3-6, and the Bobcats will be looking to make a comeback against them in what is sure to be an energetic matchup.
