FINAL-Minnesota salvages a split with a 5-2 victory. The Gophers thoroughly dominated Wisconsin through two periods, and although the Badgers stormed back in the third, it was too little too late. Minnesota improves to 3-4-1, with an identical conference record. Wisconsin falls to 4-3-1, including 2-3-1 in WCHA play. With the win Minnesota now has seven points in conference play and pulls ahead of Wisconsin, who remain at five.
1:01 3rd-Wisconsin pulled its goalie with two minutes remaining, and with just over a minute in the game Zach Budish steals the puck at center ice and puts it through the net, sending the crowd heading for the exits as he gets his second goal of the night. GOPHERS 5, WISCONSIN 2.
2:13 3rd-Following a flurry of action in the Minnesota zone, Wisconsin calls a time-out to regroup. The Badgers had multiple close calls, and Minnesota is lucky to still be leading the game, much less by two. The first chance during the previous five minutes was on a Badgers shot that hit off the right pipe and bounced away. The second attempt had numerous shots on goal, but Kangas was able to thwart each attempt.
7:46 3rd-Wisconsin won't go away without a fight. After a shot is deflected by Kangas, Ryan McDonagh knocks it down from the air and just inside the right pipe, cutting the Gophers lead to two. The goal was upheld after further review. GOPHERS 4, WISCONSIN 2.
11:29 3rd-And just like that, Minnesota extends its lead back to three. Starting in place of Sam Lofquist, Brian Schack takes a one-timer from outside the left circle and it goes high past Bennett's glove side and through the back of the net. GOPHERS 4, WISCONSIN 1.
14:57 3rd-The goal by Wisconsin has rejuvenated the rather quiet crowd at Kohl Center, and play for much of the third has been focused in the Gophers zone.
19:32 3rd-After winning the face-off, Wisconsin passes the puck back to Jake Gardiner who fires a slap shot from inside the left blue line that weaves through the defense and past Kangas for the goal. Kangas has had a solid game heading into the third, but for the second night in a row allowed a relatively easy shot to go past into the net. Time will tell how crucial that one goal is for Wisconsin. GOPHERS 3, WISCONSIN 1.
2nd Intermission Re-Cap:
Goals: Gophers 1 (White); Wisconsin 0
Shots on Goal: Gophers 10; Wisconsin 15
Penalties:Gophers 3; Wisconsin 2
Instant Analysis:
Where was this team last night? The Gophers have appeared to fix their woes on all sides of the puck en route to a through display through two periods. The offense is making smart passes, creating multiple odd-man rushes. The defense is blocking pucks and clearing possible second-chance opportunities. Kangas is playing near perfect, stopping over 32 shots through two periods. The power play unit has killed each and every Badgers power play, even creating three short handed opportunities to widen the lead. Multiple players have talked about trying to put the pieces together, and through two periods they've managed to do just that.
Scores from around the WCHA Conference:
North Dakota 2, Michigan Tech 1-Third Period
Minnesota Duluth 0, Colorado College 0-First Period
Denver at Alaska Anchorage-7:07 p.m. start local time
00:00 2nd-A dominant second period for the Gophers comes to a close. Minnesota routinely and efficiently killed all of Wisconsin's many power plays, and a goal by Patrick White, his second of the series, has the Gophers heading into the third with a three-goal lead.
3:39 2nd-Another penalty, this time on the Badgers as Derek Lee is called for boarding.
4:22 2nd-Just after the end of the Badgers power play, Minnesota adds to its goal total. Patrick White went right through the middle of the ice and from just in-front of Bennet put a backhander through the net. A crucial third-goal has Minnesota comfortably ahead. GOPHERS 3, WISCONSIN 0.
7:03 2nd-Wisconsin continues to get power play chances, as Mike Carman is called for hooking.
10:15 2nd-The Badgers power play ends with a lot of passing, but no real threats on the goal. Minnesota's penalty kill is playing extremely well tonight, forcing a frustrated Badgers team into taking low-percentage shots that are consistently falling wide of the net.
12:44 2nd-Wisconsin will be on its fourth power play of the night, as Joe Miller was called for interference. Don Lucia did not like the call, as Miller looked to be following a legal check when he was cited for the penalty.
13:27 2nd-The Badgers power play ends with two chances; both by Minnesota. David Fischer took an errant Wisconsin pass and had a one-on-one. Fischer managed to get the shot off, but it was saved by Bennett. On the other end Wisconsin had a four-on-three fast break due to a Minnesota line change, but Kangas was there to make the chest save.
14:39 2nd-The Gophers nearly add their third shorthanded goal of the season. Ryan Flynn steals the puck and has a breakaway, but Bennett makes the glove save on the shot to his left to keep the Minnesota lead at two.
15:54 2nd-Wisconsin will be on its third power play of the night, as David Fischer was called for interference.
16:30 2nd-Immediately after the power play ends Wisconsin gets a breakaway. Brendan Smith dashes from the box, receives the pass and is all alone. He fires a shot top right, but Kangas makes the deflection and sends the puck up and out of play.
18:30 2nd-Minnesota will be on the power play, as Brendan Smith was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after pushing a Gophers player into the Wisconsin netminder.
1st Intermission Re-Cap:
Goals: Gophers 2 (Lucia, Budish); Wisconsin 0
Shots on Goal: Gophers 6; Wisconsin 17
Penalties: Gophers 2; Wisconsin 0
Instant Analysis:
It seems the more players Minnesota loses, the better it responds. A day after coming out flat, the Gophers could not have scripted a better first period. Mike Hoeffel was a late scratch, meaning Minnesota would be playing without two-thirds of its original first line. That did not seem to matter, as Tony Lucia continues a great two-week stretch with a goal just over a minute into the game. Lucia drove down the right ice and fired a shot inside the right circle that went over the left shoulder of Bennett for the first goal of the night. Five minutes later Lucia recorded his second point of the night after finding Zach Budish with a perfect pass, which Budish inserted past an outstretched Bennett to give the Gophers their current lead of two heading into the second period. Minnesota has improved in all facets after Friday night's loss. Alex Kangas is playing solid between the pipes, stopping multiple Wisconsin shots, making three noteworthy saves during the Badgers first power play. The one area Minnesota still needs work on remains defensively. It is apparent the team misses Leddy, as the physicality on the front defensive line is not the same with the Ness-Fischer combination.
Scores from around the WCHA Conference:
North Dakota 1, Michigan Tech 1-Second Period
00:00 1st-The first period comes to a close with the Gophers staked to a two-goal lead.
6:49 1st-The Badgers second power play ends with further solid play by the Gophers. Tony Lucia continues his already impressive night, tipping multiple Wisconsin passes, and Ryan Flynn also provided stellar defense and knocking away multiple passes during the Wisconsin power play.
9:44 1st-Wisconsin will be on its second power play of the night, as Minnesota's Kevin Wehrs is sent to the box for cross checking after getting involved in contact after the whistle. The game has taken on a noticeably more physical tone, especially after Minnesota's second goal.
10:20 1st-Minnesota survives the Badgers power play. Wisconsin crashed the Gophers net and had multiple rebound opportunities, but Kangas was there each time to block the second-shot attempt. Early on Kangas and the Gophers are clicking on all cylinders.
13:00 1st-Wisconsin will be on the power play, as Minnesota's Kevin Wehrs is sent to the box.
13:07 1st-The Gophers are playing like a team looking to avoid a sweep. Tony Lucia continues his big game, driving down the left side of the ice and feeding Zach Budish a perfect pass in front of the net. Budish puts the puck past an out-of-position Bennett, and Minnesota has an early two-goal lead. GOPHERS 2, WISCONSIN 0.
13:44 1st-The Badgers are trying to get the Gophers into a physical game, but Minnesota is not taking the bait. Staked to an early lead the Gophers are playing smart hockey, making safe passes and avoiding Wisconsin's big hits. Despite so many key losses Don Lucia's squad is performing admirably early on in the first period.
18:43 1st-Early scoring again, this time by Minnesota. Tony Lucia took the puck the length of the ice and from just inside the right circle fired a shot over the left shoulder of Bennett. Huge goal for the Gophers as they look to avoid a sweep without Hoeffel, Leddy and Barriball. GOPHERS 1, WISCONSIN 0.
Just before the first drop of the puck, the Gophers will attempt to avoid a sweep without yet another key player.
It was announced that junior Mike Hoeffel was a late scratch with illness. Replacing Hoeffel on the first line is Mike Carman. Jake Hansen will now enter the game on the second line.
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