Buckeyes Fall to No. 10 Gophers, 6-3

Saturday, January 20

Minneapolis, Minn.

8:00 PM

Ohio State

9-11-4, 1-11-2

University of Minnesota

14-6-4, 7-4-3

Ohio St.

Minnesota

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Buckeyes Fall to No. 10 Gophers, 6-3

1/20/2024 10:56:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men's hockey team dropped the series finale to No. 10 Minnesota, 6-3, Saturday in 3M Arena at Mariucci.

After a scoreless first period, Minnesota scored the first two goals of the second. Ohio State responded 23 seconds later for a 2-1 game, but the Gophers found the back of the net once more before the period ended. Minnesota pushed the lead to 5-1 midway through the third. The Buckeyes tallied back-to-back in less than a minute for a 5-3 game but could get no closer and Minnesota sealed the win with an empty net goal.

The game ended the regular season series between the Buckeyes (9-11-4, 1-11-2 0-0-2 B1G) and Gophers (14-6-4, 7-4-3 1-0-0 B1G).

How it Happened

There were no goals scored in the first period, with the Gophers outshooting the Buckeyes, 7-4.
Minnesota opened the scoring on a Garrett Pinoniemi goal 3:14 into the second and doubled the lead at 7:21 on Bryce Brodzinski's tally.
Just 23 seconds later the Buckeyes answered. Patrick Guzzo sent Joe Dunlap into the zone and his shot went five-hole for a 2-1 game.
Minnesota's Rhett Pitlick converted off a faceoff win with less than three minutes left in the second and the Gophers carried a 3-1 lead into intermission. The teams combined for 24 shots in the second, with Minnesota ahead, 14-10.
The Gophers tallied twice in the first 10 minutes of the third at 5:17 and 9:19, to push the lead to 5-1.
Ohio State notched the next two to draw within two.
At 13:53 Jake Dunlap put in a loose puck from just outside the crease, assisted by Mason Klee and Joe Dunlap.
Caden Brown followed shortly after. Cam Thiesing found Brown between the defense and he drove the net and scored on a backhand. William Smith had the second assist on the goal, which came at 14:47.
The Buckeyes pulled their goalie for the extra attacker but an Ohio State penalty put the Gophers on the power play with 1:47 left. Once it gained control Ohio State again skated with the net empty, but Minnesota closed out the scoring with an empty net power play goal at 19:26.
The Gophers ended the game with the lead in shots, 30-27. Buckeye goalie Logan Terness played 58:03 and had 24 saves. Ohio State had 12 shot blocks, led by Klee, Scooter Brickey, Max Montes and Damien Carfagna with two each.
The Buckeyes did not score on their one power play chance in the game and the penalty kill was 3-for-4.

Buckeye This and That

The game was the first time both Dunlap brothers, on the team together for the first time this year, scored a goal in the same contest for Ohio State. Jake Dunlap's tally was the first time both brothers had a point on the same goal.
Joe Dunlap had a team-best two points on a goal and an assist in the game. It was his sixth career two-point game and his first of the year. He has a 2-3-5 line in five games this season, with a point in four of the five outings.
Leading scorer Stephen Halliday had his three-game goal and six-game point streaks end.

The Schedule Ahead

The Buckeyes head east to Penn State for a series Friday and Saturday. The Nittany Lions are the only Big Ten team Ohio State has not yet faced this season.
The games at Penn State will be streamed through Big Ten Plus and on Ohio State Radio. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. for game one and 6 p.m. for game two in University Park, Pa.
Ohio State will be back in Columbus to host No. 15/14 Michigan Feb. 2 (7 p.m.) and Feb. 3 (8 p.m.) in Value City Arena and after an open weekend will host Wisconsin Feb. 16 (6:30 p.m.) and 17 (4:30 p.m.). Tickets for the games vs. the Wolverines and Badgers, and all remaining home games, can be purchase online HERE.

Jake Dunlap with a goal for the Buckeyes in the third, set up by Mason Klee and his brother Joe Dunlap.

First goal with both Dunlaps in on the scoring wearing the Scarlet and Gray. pic.twitter.com/d14ENKK7d9
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) January 21, 2024