Gophers earn a weekend split with Ohio State after 2-0 win

Jack LaFontaine’s first shutout of the season carried the No. 6/8 Gopher men’s hockey to a 2-0 win over No. 18/14 Ohio State on Saturday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

Minnesota (7-5-0 overall, 4-2-0-0-1-0 Big Ten) allowed just 13 shots on goal in the win – the lowest total by an opponent since a 3-0 win over St. Lawrence on Nov. 17, 2018.

A First Team All-American and the 2021 Mike Richter Award winner, LaFontaine (7-5-0) stopped all 13 shots he faced in the series finale for his sixth career shutout and also backstopped a 4-for-4 performance on the penalty kill by the Maroon & Gold. Jakub Dobes (7-2-0) made 20 saves on 22 shots faced for the Buckeyes.

Minnesota jumped out to an early lead when Aaron Huglen fed Jonny Sorenson with four seconds left in the first period for the junior’s second goal of the season. The Gophers added to the lead at 7:25 of the third period when Matthew Knies tallied an unassisted power-play goal on the Maroon & Gold’s only advantage of the night.

The Gophers held a 22-13 advantage in shots on the night – outshooting the Buckeyes (7-3-0, 4-2-0-0-0-0) in all three periods.