ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Taking care of the that team down south, Michigan advanced to the Big Ten Hockey Championships with a 7-2 win over Ohio State. In a single elimination game, UM opened the game up with a 3-0 lead in the first period and didn’t look back. They will now face Minnesota for the championship.
Michigan heads back to the championship game for a second year in a row as the number two seed to defend its championship won last year. They will have to do this in Minneapolis on the home ice of the Gophers.
Just 23 seconds into the first period, Gavin Bradley hit the top corner of the net off a pass from Adam Fantilli for the 1-0 lead. When it looked like OSU had tied the game three minutes later, UM challenged the call and won as the Buckeyes were offside. At 4:48, Seamus Casey scored the second goal just getting it by the OSU goalie. Mackie Samoskevich netted the third goal in the period at 10:27 for the three-goal lead.
OSU scored on a power play in the second period at 11:43 to make it 3-1 but Fantilli made it 4-1 at 17:05. Once again, OSU scored on a power play in the third period to come within two, 4-2, at 1:32. Jackson Hallum then added the fifth goal of the game at 6:20, 5-2, but OSU scored late at 13:54 cutting the lead to two, again, 5-3. UM then earned two empty net goals at 17:10 (Keaton Pehrson) and 18:46 (Rutger McGroarty).
Erik Portillo had 35 saves on 38 shots earning his 57th win at Michigan. The Wolverines are now 23-11-3 on the year.
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