Gophers men's hockey captain Justin Kloos scored 3:25 into overtime, as Minnesota defeated Ohio State 5-4 in overtime Friday in Columbus, Ohio.
Tommy Novak and Tyler Sheehy scored third-period goals for the Gophers (15-13, 9-3 Big Ten), but Ohio State forced overtime with a goal with 1 second remaining in regulation.
Eric Schierhorn saved 27 shots for Minnesota, which outshot the Buckeyes (8-14-2, 3-5-2-1 Big Ten) 45-31. It was the third overtime game between the two squads this season and the third win for Minnesota, which has trailed in each game.
"The right guys scored for us," coach Don Lucia said. "The guys that we need to score did."
Kloos has 22 points in his past 10 games, including two goals and an assist Friday.
Ohio State took a 1-0 halfway through the first period, but Kloos tied the game at 1 with 25 seconds remaining in the period.
Leon Bristedt gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead 3:28 into the second, but the Gophers did not score again in the period, despite 17 shots on goal.
The Buckeyes took a 3-2 lead on a pair of power-play goals in the first 3:22 of the third period. Novak tied the game at 3 with a goal 1:08 later and Sheehy's goal came 17:15 into the period before Ohio State's last-second goal.
The Gophers entered the game tied with Michigan for first place in the Big Ten with 27 points. Ohio State was fourth in the conference with 12 points.
Ohio State has five players with Minnesota ties. Junior defenseman Drew Brevig and freshman forward John Wiitala played for Lakeville South, and freshmen Miguel Fidler and Tyler Nanne played for Edina.
Junior Anthony Greco attended Shattuck St. Mary's Shattuck St. Mary's in Faribault, Minn. He had two assists Friday.
Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik and associate head coach Mark Strobel are both St. Paul natives and gradutes of Hill-Murray.
