COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a classic “good news, bad news” afternoon for the Minnesota Gophers women’s hockey team on Saturday. They fell 5-4 in a shootout to top-ranked Ohio State, but feel good about heading west with four of a possible six WCHA points.
Still, with leads of 3-1 and 4-3 in the third period, the Gophers’ chances for a sweep were done in by four penalties in the final 20 minutes, which opened the door for the Buckeyes to rally.
“You don’t love to see four penalty kills in the third, but we had a power play goal, we had a shorthanded goal and two even strength goals,” said Gophers coach Brad Frost. “But obviously, being up 3-1, you’d like to close it out.”
Goals by Abbey Murphy early in the first and third periods, along with some stellar defense and goaltending, fueled the Gophers’ lead. Skylar Vetter, who started both games in goal this weekend, had 27 saves for Minnesota (7-0-1 overall, 7-0-1 WCHA) in the shootout loss.
Murph Magic pt. 2
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) October 29, 2022
Her 8th of the year was NASTY pic.twitter.com/K1Tkmh9EbM
The Buckeyes (9-1-0, 9-1-0) got a pair of power play goals from Sophie Jaques and another from Makenna Webster along with 27 saves from goalie Raygan Kirk.
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As they had done in the series opener, the Gophers jumped out to an early lead. Scoring on a power play and at even strength for a two-goal advantage barely three minutes into the contest.
Ohio State appeared to get on the board a short time later, when their first shot on goal of the game was tipped in front of Vetter. She appeared to cover the puck but it slipped from the goalie’s grasp and slid over the goal line a split second after the whistle sounded. Called a goal on the ice, the Gophers challenged the play and it was ruled no goal following a lengthy review. The Buckeyes finally did solve Vetter later in the first, cashing in during a scramble in front of the net.
A beauty from Bouveng!
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) October 29, 2022
Her fourth 🚨 of the year! pic.twitter.com/CIXxN0WkH4
“This is a learning opportunity, and when you’re having a learning opportunity in (October) rather than in January or February, that’s a good thing,” said Gophers forward Taylor Heise, who scored shorthanded to give her team a 4-3 lead, before Jaques tied it again.
Minnesota had a power play in the extra session but missed a golden opportunity to win when Murphy’s point-blank shot went just wide of the net.
Ohio State 5, Minnesota 4, SO
Minnesota 2-0-2-0—4
Ohio State 1-0-3-0—4
First period — 1. MN, Abbey Murphy 7 (Gracie Ostertag, Madeline Wethington), 2:23, (PP). 2. MN, Josefin Bouveng 4 (Peyton Hemp, Emily Zumwinkle), 3:10. 3. OS, Makenna Webster 1 (Levis, Emma Maltais), 14:42. Penalties — Paetyn Levis, OS (body checking), 1:06; Sophie Jaques, OS (slashing), 10:12; Brooke Bink, OS (roughing), 17:12; Catie Skaja, MN (holding), 17:12; Gabby Rosenthal, OS (tripping), 19:25; Madison Bizal, OS (roughing), 19:53; Abbey Murphy, MN (roughing), 19:53.
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Second period — No scoring. Penalties — Rosenthal, OS (slashing), 5:11.
Third period — 4. MN, Murphy 8 (Grace Zumwinkle, Ostertag), 0:53. 5. OS, Jennifer Gardiner 5 (Webster), 10:47. 6. OS, Jaques 9 (Webster, Emma Maltais), 12:47, (PP). 7. MN, Taylor Heise 4 (Skaja, Ostertag), 13:53, (SH). 8. OS, Jaques 10 (Madison Bizal, Maltais), 14:26, (PP). Penalties — Bench (served by Madison Kaiser), MN (too many players), 5:12; Lizi Norton, MN (hooking), 8:16; Crystalyn Hengler, MN (slashing), 10:47; Murphy, MN (hooking), 13:24.
Overtime — No scoring. Penalties — Rosenthal, OS (tripping), 0:27.
Shots on goal — MN 8-9-7-7—31; OS 9-11-9-2—31. Goalies — Skylar Vetter, MN (31 shots-27 saves); Raygan Kirk, OS (31-27). Power plays — MN 1-of-5, OS 2-of-4. Referees — Christopher Binkley, Sarma Pone. Linesmen — Tyler Iffland, Tim Katrinak. Att. — 319.
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