(UW ATHLETICS) MINNEAPOLIS – Despite heading into the third period with both teams scoreless, the No. 17 Wisconsin men’s hockey team fell to No. 4 Minnesota, 4-1, at 3M Arena at Mariucci on Saturday evening.
The game stayed scoreless until Minnesota (21-6-3, 12-4-2 Big Ten – 38 points) struck at 9:16 of the third period to make it a 1-0 game. The Gophers scored two more times at 11:21 and 14:19 to make it 3-0 in favor of Minnesota. Wisconsin (11-14-3, 6-11-1 Big Ten – 24 points) kept fighting as Ryan Botterill lit the lamp with 3:56 remaining in the contest to get the Badgers on the board. The Gophers then added an empty-net goal with 2:15 remaining to seal a 4-1 win.
How it Happened
The game was silent for the first two periods. Each team had two power-play opportunities but were unable to convert on any scoring chances to find the back of the net.
Minnesota broke the ice with 10:44 left in the final frame after Matthew Wood found the back of the net a second after its power play expired.
The Gophers scored two more times, once on a fluke deflection with 8:39 left and again with 5:41 remaining, to take a 3-0 lead.
Wisconsin got on the board with 3:56 left in the game on freshman forward Botterill’s third goal of the season. After UW pulled its goaltender for an extra attacker, junior forward Christian Fitzgerald skated with the puck by the right side boards before taking a shot, which junior forward Kyle Kukkonen tried to tip into the net. Minnesota goaltender Liam Souliere saved Kukkonen’s redirect, but left it in the blue paint where Botterill tucked the rebound home.
Minnesota added an empty-net goal with 2:15 remaining to take the 4-1 victory.
Wisconsin went 0-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 27-26 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know:
– Ryan Botterill scored for the first time in 11 games
Up Next: The Badgers return to the Kohl Center for a series against Penn State on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 7-8. Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m., while Saturday’s begins at 6 p.m.
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