Gophers Lock Up Road Sweep at OSU

Gophers Lock Up Road Sweep at OSU

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Rem Pitlick’s 100th career point with Gopher Hockey proved useful as the junior forward set up the game-winning goal on Saturday night in a 4-3 win for Minnesota, completing the road sweep over No. 2/3 Ohio State.

Minnesota (13-14-4 overall, 10-9-3-0 Big Ten) never trailed over the weekend, picking up goals from Scott Reedy, Nathan Burke, Brent Gates Jr. and Tyler Sheehy on Saturday as the Gophers claimed a 4-3 win over the Big Ten frontrunners for the second-straight night. The Maroon & Gold scored four goals on just 16 shots in the series finale.

Things started early for the Maroon & Gold as Reedy scored for the second-consecutive night just 20 seconds into the contest – Minnesota’s fastest goal to start a game this season. Reedy’s fifth goal of the year was set up by Sampo Ranta and Jack Sadek. Burke added to the lead later in the period with his fifth goal of the year – also scoring for the second time in as many games. Sammy Walker and Blake McLaughlin assisted on the goal at 8:47 of the opening stanza. The Gophers pushed the lead to 3-0 in the second period when Gates lasered home his 12th of the year at 6:42. Sheehy and Tyler Nanne set up Minnesota’s third goal.

Ohio State (19-7-4, 12-5-3-2) responded with a pair of power-play goals later in the second period from Mason Jobst at 7:43 and Carson Meyer at 17:07.

Sheehy found the net for the eventual game winner at 8:47 of the third period when Pitlick found him for the senior captain’s 11th goal of the year. The assist served as Pitlick’s 100th career point (the junior is the 84th Gopher Hockey skater to reach the milestone) while Sheehy moved into a tie with Jordan Leopold for 33rd all-time at Minnesota in career scoring with 144 points (Sheehy’s next target is Trent Klatt at 146 career points).

Ronnie Hein answered for the Buckeyes at 9:58 to make it a one-goal game, but Ohio State was unsuccessful in a late push for the equalizer.

The Gophers boasted a big performance in goal from Mat Robson as the junior made 43 saves to pick up the win, moving to 10-10-4 on the year. Tommy Napier took the loss with 12 saves to move to 11-2-2 on the year.

Minnesota closes out the regular season with two more series at 3M Arena at Mariucci over the next two weeks, hosting Notre Dame (Feb. 22-23) and Arizona State (March 1-2). Tickets are available at GopherSports.com.

Notes: Sadek now has points in four of the last five games and six of the last nine as he pushed his single-season career high to 15 points with an assist tonight…Pitlick now has points in 21 of the last 22 games and 26 of Minnesota’s 31 games this year…his 17 goals, 20 assists and 37 points are all career highs while the junior leads Minnesota in goals and points this year…Minnesota finishes the regular-season with a 2-0-2 record against Ohio State.