Going into Saturday’s WCHA semifinal clash with No. 2 Wisconsin, Ohio State needed a lot of stars to align in order to secure an invite to the NCAA tournament. Against all odds, that stellar scenario seemed to be playing out perfectly. One by one Princeton, Providence, Boston University, and Colgate fell in their respective conference tournament semis. The Buckeyes just needed to upset the Badgers.
They came awfully close.
An aggressive, high energy effort by the Badgers in the opening frame put the Buckeyes on their heels to start to the game. Midway through the first period, that elevated pace led to an OSU penalty and a Wisconsin power play goal.