ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team began the New Year on a sour note as Ohio State and senior forward Matt Johnson proved to be rude guests. Johnson scored three times as the Buckeyes, idle since December 5, jumped to a 4-0 second-period lead and went on from there to defeat Mercyhurst 6-3 in the teams' first-ever meeting in front of 2,431 fans at the Erie Insurance Arena. Ohio State improved to 6-9-1 while the Lakers, off since December 14, dropped to 8-6-2. The game marked the Lakers' first game in the downtown venue in 23 years.

Ohio State senior forward and team captain Tanner Fritz beat Mercyhurst senior netminder, Jimmy Sarjeant (6-4-0), redirecting a centering pass from linemate Drew Brevig at 6:55 of the first. It was Fritz's sixth goal of the season. The Buckeyes extended the lead to 3-0 on goals by senior forward Matt Johnson (his fifth) at 13:34 and sophomore winger Nick Schilkey, his fourth, at 17:28. Ohio State outshot Mercyhurst 14-6 in the first twenty minutes.
 
The Buckeyes' lead ballooned to 4-0 when Johnson notched his second of the game – and eventual game-winner - at 2:47 of the middle period. Mercyhurst finally solved Ohio State sophomore goaltender, Matt Tomkins (4-5-1; a Chicago Blackhawks' draft pick), with a pair of goals midway in the period.

Sophomore winger Kyle Dutra collected his seventh of the year when he cashed in on a 2-on-1 break with linemate, redshirt senior, Kyle Just at 11:34 and, when senior forward Daniel Bahntge followed suit with his sixth goal of the season just 57 seconds later, the Lakers and their partisan crowd were back in business. Senior Ryan Misiak also helped on Dutra's lamplighter while Bahntge's goal was assisted by freshman Jack Riley and Dutra. 

Ohio State owned a 15-7 shot advantage in the second.    
 
But, Buckeye forward Matthew Weis quieted the crowd with his second of the season, with the Lakers a man down, at 7:32 of the third. Mercyhurst sophomore defenseman Philippe Drouin scored the first goal of his 33-game career, surprising Tomkins with a shot from the right point, at 13:50 to keep Mercyhurst's hopes alive. Drouin was helped by freshman Kane Elliot and Bahntge. But Johnson ruined the comeback attempt, completed his hat trick, and ended the scoring at 16:36, beating Sarjeant with a snapshot from just inside the blue line. The Buckeyes outshot the Lakers 14-5 in the third and 43-18 overall.

Sarjeant dropped to 6-4-0 on the season with a 37-save performance while Tomkins improved to 4-5-1 after turning aside 15 Mercyhurst shots.
 
Mercyhurst was penalized five times, including the contest's final four, but allowed only Weis' power play strike in the third. Ohio State was hit with two minor infractions in the 60 minutes and held the Lakers off the board each time.
 
The two teams will conclude the weekend series at the Erie Insurance Arena on Saturday afternoon at 2:35 p.m.
 
Notes: Drouin's goal was his first point since November 22 in a 3-3 tie at Canisius…Riley has a four-game scoring streak (3g, 4a)…Bahntge is on a four-game scoring streak (3g, 3a)…Misiak now has at least one point in five straight (3g, 2a)…Just is riding a six-game streak (3g, 4a)…Elliott's assist was the first of his career and his second career point (goal at Army November 7)…team captain Matthew Zay's four-game scoring streak came to an end…Drouin (+2) and freshman defenseman Patrick Piacentini (+2) were the only Lakers in the plus column on the night…Ohio State has now won five of six career meetings with Mercyhurst…The Buckeyes are now 4-0 when leading after two periods and 4-3-1 away from home...Mercyhurst is now 0-4-1 when trailing after a period and 0-5 when behind after two…Dutra (1g, 1a) and Bahntge (1g, 1a) were the only Lakers with multiple points…Johnson (3g), Schilkey (1g, 1a), Weis (1g, 1a), Christian Lampasso (2a), and Chad Niddery (2a) were the top Buckeyes…Anthony Greco led OSU with seven shots; Just led Mercyhurst with three