No. 1 Michigan avoids sweep, takes down Ohio State, 5-4, in overtime

Michigan Avoids Ohio State Sweep Behind Hage’s Five-Point Night in 5-4 Overtime Thriller

Facing the uncomfortable reality of a weekend sweep at the hands of their fierce rival, the top-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team turned to junior forward Michael Hage to rewrite the script at Value City Arena. Hage factored in on every single goal on Sunday evening, delivering a five-point masterpiece that culminated in a 5-4 overtime victory against Ohio State.

The bounce-back win arrived less than 24 hours after a frustrating 5-2 defeat to the unranked Buckeyes on Saturday, an outing that left the Wolverines searching for answers in the details of their own zone. For a program unaccustomed to dropping games early in the campaign, Sunday’s matinee required a complete stylistic overhaul and a relentless surge of bench energy.

“Effort, like the bench energy,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato explained regarding the stark turnaround from Saturday to Sunday, as quoted by michigandaily.com. “Played a little more in the o-zone and fed the forecheck. I thought being able to score four goals. [Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic] was good. [Junior forward Michael Hage] is probably the best story of responding in general. It was just okay yesterday, but awesome today.”

Special Teams and a Four-Goal Rollercoaster

The physical intensity of the rivalry was evident from the opening whistle. Just five minutes into the contest, freshman forward Jack Nesbitt headed to the penalty box for unsportsmanlike conduct. Ohio State capitalized quickly, slipping the puck past Ivankovic from the bumper position to establish a 1-0 edge that carried through the first intermission.

Michigan (8-1-0 overall, 1-1-0 Big Ten) finally broke through early in the second period when a tripping infraction gave the Wolverines a man advantage. Just 16 seconds into the power play, sophomore forward Malcolm Spence found the back of the net below the right circle to knot the score at 1-1, courtesy of setup work from Hage and Jayden Perron, according to mgoblue.com.

“Our culture is what drives our bus,” Spence said, as highlighted by michigandaily.com. “That culture on the bench really proves how we can come down on those leads and come back because we all believe in each other.”

The Wolverines kept pressing before the second intermission. With a fresh power-play opportunity winding down, freshman forward J.P. Hurlbert fired a low shot from the slot past the Ohio State goaltender, securing a 2-1 advantage for Michigan heading into the final frame. Hage collected his second helper of the night on the sequence.

Trading Blows in the Third Period

Ohio State (3-5-0, 1-1-0 Big Ten) refused to fade quietly. The Buckeyes answered with a power-play tally of their own early in the third period to pull level at 2-2. What followed was a furious back-and-forth sequence that featured four total lead changes and four ties over the course of regulation.

Massive SCUFFLE ensues after Michigan tries to plant flag on Ohio State's logo

Hage took matters into his own hands near the ten-minute mark of the third. Carrying the puck into the offensive zone, the junior forward navigated past three Buckeyes defensemen before launching a shot that deflected off a defender into the cage, reclaiming a 3-2 lead for the visitors. Yet, defensive lapses and an unfortunate turnover soon allowed Ohio State to claw back and grab a 4-3 advantage.

With time running short and the pressure mounting, Michigan pulled even once more. Spence delivered his second goal of the evening, capitalizing on an extra attacker to make it 4-4 and force the contest into a decisive 3-on-3 extra frame.

Overtime Heroics Seal the Split

The extra period lasted mere minutes, but the historical weight hung heavy. Michigan had not suffered a sweep since dropping back-to-back games against Penn State during the 2025 Big Ten tournament, a streak the roster was determined to protect.

Controlling the period’s opening faceoff, the Wolverines sustained heavy pressure in the offensive zone. Hage worked the puck along the boards, drawing defenders completely out of position before sliding a crisp pass to sophomore forward Adam Valentini at the right post. Valentini buried his first career overtime game-winning goal at 4:17, with defenseman Drew Schock earning the secondary assist.

“It felt really good,” Valentini said, according to michigandaily.com. “Hage made a really nice play, and Schock kept it alive in the o-zone, and it felt good.”

The victory halts any potential skid for the top-ranked squad as they navigate the opening weeks of conference play. While the defensive miscues from the weekend series will demand attention back in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines escape Columbus with their ranking intact and a hard-earned conference split.