University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Ohio State
Boyd's Hat Trick Leads Gophers
2/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
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MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) - Travis Boyd recorded his first career hat trick as the Gopher Hockey program beat Ohio State 6-2 to complete a weekend sweep.
Boyd tallied four goals and an assist during the series against the Buckeyes. He now leads Minnesota (14-9-3, 5-2-3-0 Big Ten) with 13 goals this season. Sam Warning and Seth Ambroz each notched a career-high three assists.
Minnesota went 3-for-4 on the power play and stifled the first three of the Buckeyes' (7-15-2, 2-8-0-0 Big Ten) four power plays. With nine power play goals in the last five games, the Gophers have reclaimed their status as the best power play in the nation at .291 (30-for-103) on the year.
Boyd opened the scoring at 6:31 with a one-timer set up by Warning and Ambroz. Thirty seconds later, Hudson Fasching made it 2-0 with a goal from just outside the crease, assisted by Leon Bristedt and Kyle Rau.
Ohio State cut the lead in half when Sam Jardine's shot ricocheted off the boards, off Wilcox and into the net at 9:41.
After the first intermission, Minnesota quickly increased its lead. Boyd scored his second goal of the night just nine seconds into the second period, again assisted by Warning and Ambroz. He completed the hat trick at 14:16 with help from Mike Reilly and Taylor Cammarata. It was the second hat trick by a Gopher this season, as Warning accomplished the feat against St. Cloud State on Nov. 1.
Rau's power play conversion in the third was the 56th goal of his career, tying him with Dean Blais and Jeff Taffe for 40th on the Gophers' all-time list.
Each team lit the lamp once more in the third, as Victor Bjorkung scored a power play goal for the Buckeyes and Michael Brodzinski drove home the Maroon & Gold's third power play goal of the night.
Adam Wilcox earned his 65th career win between the pipes and now sits alone in fourth place in program history. He tied John Blue with last night's victory. Wilcox stopped 16 shots Saturday as Minnesota outshot Ohio State 28-18.
Two home games against Michigan are next on Minnesota's schedule. The Gophers and Wolverines will face off Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. on BTN, and Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. on FSN Plus.
-Pride On Ice-
