COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 12/13 Ohio State scored three power play goals and held off the Omaha hockey team, 3-2, in its home opener on Friday at Value City Arena.

It was the Mavericks' first loss of the young season, dropping them to 2-1-0 while the Buckeyes improved to 2-0-1.

The Mavericks got into penalty trouble midway through the first period, and the Buckeyes capitalized with a 4-on-3 power play goal from Matt Miller at 11:28.

Omaha tied the game with the man advantage in the final minute.  Dean Stewart fed Kevin Conley on the left wing, and he fired a shot to the top corner for his first of the year.

The Buckeyes regained the lead in the closing seconds of the middle period during another power play.  Tanner Laczynski's shot from the right wing slipped under Isaiah Saville at 19:57.

Less than five minutes into the third period, the Mavericks tied the game again.  Ryan Jones' shot from the left point slipped past goalie Tommy Nappier for his second goal of the season.

But the Buckeyes would cash in on their final power play of the night to get the lead for good.  Quinn Preston hammered home a cross-ice pass from Laczynski at 10:11.

Saville made 24 saves in suffering his first loss of the season while Nappier made 25 saves as each team finished with 27 shots on goal.

The two teams finish the series on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT.

GAME NOTES:

• The loss snapped the Mavericks' five-game winning streak against Ohio State dating back to 2010.
• In addition to registering the same number of shots on goal, the two teams had the same number of face off wins (32) and blocks (11).
• The Mavericks went 1-for-6 on the power play while OSU was 3-for-7.
• The Mavericks have now scored power play goals in all three games this season.

Three Stars:  1. Tanner Laczynski/OSU (1-2-3); 2. Tommy Nappier/OSU (25 saves); 3. Isaiah Saville/Omaha (24 saves)