Special Teams Powers No. 2 Ohio State to 4-2 Win Over No. 3 Minnesota

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 2 Ohio State women's hockey team started the weekend series against No. 3 Minnesota with a 4-2 win at the OSU Ice Rink Friday night. The Buckeyes (27-4-0, 21-4-0 WCHA) scored three times on the power play in the team's second win over the Gophers (24-6-1. 18-6-1 WCHA) this season.

Short Story
Ohio State's first three goals came on the power play as the team went on to score four goals in the first two periods before allowing Minnesota on the board in the third. Both teams had four power play opportunities, but Ohio State's penalty kill got the better of the Gophers, going 4-for-4 on the day.

Buckeye netminder Hailey MacLeod made 26 saves in the win. Emma Peschel, Kaia Malachino, Jocelyn Amos and Maxine Cimoroni each recorded two points in Friday's game and Peschel led the team with a season-high five blocked shots.

How it Happened

Ohio State started the game outshooting Minnesota, 17-7. The Buckeye penalty kill was tested early but held the Gophers to just four shots on power play with MacLeod turning away each one.
The Buckeyes' first power play of the game came at 11:49 in the opening frame and the team was on the board 1:44 later. As the clock ticked down on the player advantage, Maxine Cimoroni sent a shot over the shoulder of Minnesota goaltender Hannah Clark to give Ohio State the 1-0 lead at 13:32. She was assisted by Jocelyn Amos and Kaia Malachino.
Ohio State started the second period with a successful penalty kill after a penalty for interference was called on the Buckeyes at 18:08 in the first period.
The team went on to earn its second power play of the game at 4:29 in the frame and this time Malachino was the one to light the lamp with an assist from Emma Peschel to double the Buckeye lead at 6:06.
Nearly 10 minutes later, the Gophers were back on the penalty kill as a result of an elbowing penalty. Ohio State needed just 53 seconds on the power play before Amos scored off assists from Sloane Matthews and Cimoroni at 16:40.
Peschel put the exclamation point on the second period for the Buckeyes, scoring an even strength goal at 19:22. Sara Swiderski assisted the goal.
Minnesota outshot the Buckeyes, 7-3, in the third period and scored twice. Ohio State's penalty kill was successful against two chances to keep the Gophers to just two goals on the day.

Game Notes

Amos, Cimoroni, Matthews and Malachino were on the ice for all three power play goals. Amos and Cimoroni both scored and recorded an assist on the power play while Malachino and Matthews assisted one power play goal apiece.
Cimoroni's goal was her first career power play goal. The freshman from Toronto, Ontario now has 10 goals on the year.
With a three-goal second period, the Buckeyes have now scored 60 of its 137 goals this season in the middle frame.

Statistically Speaking
Shots on Goal: Ohio State 39, Minnesota 28
Saves: Minnesota (Clark) 35, Ohio State (MacLeod) 26
Power Play: Ohio State 3-4, Minnesota 0-4
Faceoffs: Minnesota 33, Ohio State 29
Ohio State Scoring: Amos (1-1-2), Cimoroni (1-1-2), Malachino (1-1-2), Peschel (1-1-2), Matthews (0-1-1), Swiderski (0-1-1)

Up Next
Ohio State and Minnesota conclude the regular season series at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 at the OSU Ice Rink. The game can be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required) and televised on FOX9+ in Minnesota, Austin and Chicago and ESYX-6.2 The Nest in Columbus.

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