:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45952354/GettyImages-483941641.0.jpg)
After sending Penn State packing a day prior, Ohio State failed to score in their afternoon matchup against No. 1 Minnesota as the Buckeyes fell 3-0 to the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten semifinals Friday afternoon in Detroit.
A second period strike from Sam Warning and historic goaltending from Gopher goaltender Adam Wilcox was the difference in the game as the netminder picked up his 13th shutout of the season, tying Kellen Briggs for the most in school history.
The first period of the afternoon semifinal match saw 20 shots in the 20 minute frame, but both Wilcox and Buckeye netminder Christian Frey were up to the task in the opening period.
However, in a slow second period that saw each team only take six shots, Warning notched his 12th goal of the season 7:51 into the frame on a connection from fellow senior Travis Boyd. Warning picked his corner over Frey and rifled one over the netminder's shoulder for the 1-0 score.
Ohio State poured on the pressure with 22 total shots in the third period but despite knocking on some iron, the goals belonged to the Gophers as Minnesota tailed two to finish off their semifinal win.
Vinni Lettieri jammed home a loose puck in front of the Buckeye net off a Ben Marshall rebound for the that came off of Frey's pads and right to the forward. The sophomore then punched the puck home to double the Gopher lead at 10:45 of the third.
Boyd sealed the win for Minnesota with an early empty netter with 4:20 to go on a clearing attempt from the defensive zone that found its way into the back of the open net.
Minnesota will play the winner of Michigan and Michigan state Saturday evening in the final of the Big Ten tournament.
Game Notes:
- Wilcox's 39-save performance gave him his 21st win of the season and the 72nd of his NCAA career, the most among active goaltenders.
- Boyd tallied two points in Friday afternoon's game and has registered at least a point in seven of his last eight games.
- With the loss, Ohio State now is 3-2 all time in Big Ten tournament play after advancing to the championship game of the 2014-15 Big Ten Tournament.