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.

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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.