COLUMBUS - There was no let down.
The Michigan hockey team showed no signs of slumping last night in Columbus, less than a week after grabbing its two largest victories of the season over Miami (Ohio).
Leading, 2-0, after one period, Michigan (15-1-2 CCHA, 24-1-3 overall) put Ohio State (5-14, 7-21) away with two goals early in the second en route to a 6-1 victory in front of 1,850 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.
"Our team wanted to make sure we had a good presence in this game," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We just came off a big weekend, and you don't want to take a step back."
The victory extends Michigan's unbeaten streak to 21 games, which ties a school record.
The Wolverines stretched their lead to 3-0 just over six minutes into the second period when Michigan left wing John Madden found center Bobby Hayes from behind the net. Hayes, coming towards the goal from the left side, took the feed from Madden and wristed the puck past Ohio State goaltender Ray Aho.
Thirty-one seconds later, Michigan struck again when defender Bubba Berenzweig beat Aho clean on a slapshot from the left point to make it 4-0.
The Buckeyes showed signs of life ever-so-briefly later in the period on a power play. Off of a faceoff in the Michigan zone, Ohio State's Chad Power skated into the right corner with the puck and passed to a streaking Hugo Boisvert, who scored to cut the Michigan lead to 4-1.
But the Wolverines returned the favor 17 seconds later on a Madden wrist shot.
Madden's goal was just one of 51 shots generated by the Wolverines, compared to Ohio State's 14.
"We kept them to under 15 shots, and that's always a good performance," Michigan forward Jason Botterill said.
Turco stopped all but one of the Buckeyes' shots, including a couple of big saves in the first period.
"This is a statement tonight to give up only one goal," Berenson said.
The Wolverines drew first blood more than six minutes into the game on their second power play. After Ohio State failed to clear the puck out of its zone, Michigan's Jason Botterill gained possession, skated down the right side, and crossed to Mike Legg, who got Aho to commit left before Legg swerved the puck into the right side of the goal.
Left wing Greg Crozier assisted on the Wolverines' second goal more than six minutes later. After Aho deflected a shot to his right, Crozier swooped in near the post and backhanded the puck in front of the net to Warren Luhning, who put it in, giving Michigan a 2-0 lead.
Botterill accounted for the only goal in the third period, before the stanza deteriorated into sporadic fighting. In all, nine players were ushered off the ice in the period. For Michigan, Sean Ritchlin, Dale Rominski, Warren Luhning and Bubba Berenzweig left early, while Chris Feil, Ryan Skaleski, Jason Selleke, Taj Schaffnit and Chris Richards made the early exit for Ohio State.
The Wolverines return home to host Bowling Green tomorrow night at 7.