Having finished the first half at 7-12-1 after starting the year with high expectations surrounding a seemingly resurgent program, Ohio State seemed to have finally found its course in the early stages of 2010.

The Buckeyes breezed through the month of January, going 4-1-1 with a pair of wins over Bowling Green and single triumphs on the road at Michigan State and at home against Ferris State. But just as it appeared they were back in the thick of the race for a first round bye after junior Kyle Reed sent the Ferris State finale to overtime with a third period goal, the impending shootout loss at Value City Arena began a tailspin that has seen Ohio State lose a shootout and a game in regulation at Nebraska-Omaha while falling all the way back into 10th place ahead of this weekend’s home series against Alaska.

“Our guys got impatient with playing simple hockey and doing the little things that make one guy able to read off of the other guy,” coach John Markell said. “It’s just a matter of getting focused and creating those opportunities for ourselves. We’re shooting the puck now, and little things are happening offensively, but defensively it’s a whole different story. We need to get better defensively if we’re going to go anywhere from this point on.”

Markell attributed a great deal of his team’s success against Michigan State and Ferris State to its ability to maintain focus on its defensive systems on several different levels. While the Buckeyes continued to generate offensive opportunities, there were continual lapses in the defensive zone resulting from undisciplined forward play and an inefficient transition game.

Compounding the team’s struggles in the defensive zone has been the underwhelming play of goaltenders Cal Heeter and Dustin Carlson. They had been the catalysts for Ohio State’s strong play at certain points this year and throughout last year, when the Buckeyes finished one point out of fourth place.

“I can’t say our goaltenders are up to snuff right now,” Markell said. “They’re making a spectacular save, but they’re letting the easy one in. I don’t know how many games in a row they want to have back. We need that save. We need the good save and we need the normal save. They’re every bit a part of this as the defensemen not clearing the zone or the forwards not finishing their checks or not backchecking the right spot. We’re all part of it.”

As the Buckeyes prepare for the home series against Alaska, Markell is hoping that his team can recapture some of its earlier discipline. The Nanooks are one of the league’s stingiest defensive teams and they can be opportunistic on the offensive end, so a complete effort will be required to help keep Ohio State from playing a first-round playoff series on the road.

With six conference games remaining, Ohio State still has a chance to earn a first-round bye, although those hopes would dwindle quickly if the Buckeyes were swept. A sweep of Alaska, however, combined with splits by the teams ahead of them in the standings – Michigan at Nebraska-Omaha and Ferris State at Lake Superior State – could help them move closer to securing at least a first-round series at home.

In trying to avoid going on the road for the opening round of the playoffs, Markell is looking for improved play from at least one of his goalies, and intends to ride the hot hand if Heeter or Carlson emerges as the favorite.

“I’ve told them that I want to run with the hot goalie,” Markell said. “This time of year you have to run with the hot goalie, and one of (them) has to come out. I spoke to them both at the same time and told them what I need, what I want and what I’m going to do. Whoever starts on Friday, let’s see how he plays and keep going forward. But they keep handing it back to me, where I can make the switch. That’s not what I want, that’s not what we need this time of year.”

Recent patterns suggest that Heeter will get the first shot at securing the job down the stretch in his first start against the Nanooks. Carlson is 3-4 against Alaska in his career, and while the experience is important, a split won’t go all that far in helping Ohio State move up in the conference.