A three-goal first period sent No. 5 Minnesota on its way to a 4-1 victory against the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team on Saturday at the Kohl Center.
The Gophers took four of six points from the series after losing to the Badgers in overtime on Friday. Matthew Knies, Aaron Huglen and Jaxon Nelson skated Minnesota to a 3-0 lead in the first period.
Three stars
No. 3: Sammy Walker's second-period goal stopped UW's momentum almost before it got started.
No. 2: Minnesota goaltender Jack LaFontaine was injured late in the first period but returned to start the second. He made 36 saves.
No. 1:Â Knies scored Minnesota's first goal and added an assist.
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Three key plays
1. Aaron Huglen made a nice set of moves around Badgers defenders and got to the net for a putback of his own blocked shot to put the Gophers ahead 2-0 just over eight minutes into the first period.
3. Walker paid the price for his goal that answered Roman Ahcan's power-play score for UW just 16 seconds later. Walker drove hard to the back post to tap in Blake McLauglin's pass for a 4-1 lead, then crashed hard into the net.
3. Gophers defenseman Matt Staudacher was ejected for a check that hit UW's Corson Ceulemans in the head and sent him back into the boards two minutes into the second period. Ceulemans needed help off the ice and didn't return. UW got a three-minute power play out of it because of a cross-checking penalty to Dominick Mersch in the aftermath but it didn't convert.
Up next
The Badgers play at No. 17 Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday.
Pregame
The University of Wisconsin men's hockey team looks for its first home sweep of Minnesota in eight seasons when the teams close the series at the Kohl Center on Saturday (8:04 p.m., Bally Sports Wisconsin, BigTenPlus.com, 1070 AM).
The Badgers are 4-10-1 against the Gophers in Madison since back-to-back 2-1 victories against then-top-ranked Minnesota on Feb. 6-7, 2014.
Friday's 4-3 victory on Brock Caufield's goal was UW's ninth overtime triumph against the Gophers and the first since Steve Reinprecht scored on Jan. 13, 1999.
Cameron Rowe is in goal for the Badgers on Saturday after Jared Moe stopped a career-high 44 shots on Friday.
Badgers (4-5, 1-1-1-0 Big Ten)
Forwards
Roman Ahcan - Brock Caufield - Mathieu De St. Phalle
Jack Gorniak - Tarek Baker - Liam Malmquist
Caden Brown - Dominick Mersch - Sam Stange / Max Johnson
Carson Bantle - Ryder Donovan - Zach Urdahl
Defensemen
Jesper Peltonen - Jake Martin
Josh Ess - Corson Ceulemans
Daniel Laatsch - Anthony Kehrer
Goaltenders
Cameron Rowe
Jared Moe
Ben Garrity
Scratches: F Owen Lindmark (injured), F Brayden Morrison, D Tyler Inamoto (injured), D Mike Vorlicky (injured), D Luke LaMaster, D Shay Donovan.
Golden Gophers (5-4, 2-0-0-1)
Forwards
Blake McLaughlin - Sammy Walker - Bryce Brodzinski
Matthew Knies - Ben Meyers - Mason Nevers
Tristan Broz - Jack Perbix - Rhett Pitlick
Jonny Sorenson - Jaxon Nelson - Aaron Huglen
Defensemen
Ryan Johnson - Brock Faber
Matt Staudacher - Jackson LaCombe
Ben Brinkman - Mike Koster
Carl Fish / Colin Schmidt
Goaltenders
Jack LaFontaine
Justin Close
Officials
Referees: Colin Kronforst and Kenny Anderson.
Linesmen: Nick Bradshaw and Jonathan Sladek.
Photos: Wisconsin men's hockey defeats Minnesota 4-3 in overtime
Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber (14) and Wisconsin forward Jack Gorniak (11) fight for control of the puck during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Minnesota forward Blake McLaughlin (27) takes a shot on goal under pressure from Wisconsin forward Jack Gorniak (11) during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin defenseman Corson Ceulemans (4) takes a shot on goal under pressure from Minnesota forward Tristan Broz (10) at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin goaltender Jared Moe (35) makes a save during the first period against Minnesota at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin goaltender Jared Moe (35) makes a stop against Minnesota defenseman Jackson Lacombe (2) during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Minnesota defenseman Jackson Lacombe (2) looks to pass under pressure from Wisconsin during the second period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin forward Mathieu De St. Phalle (12) celebrates a goal with Wisconsin defenseman Corson Ceulemans (4) during the second period against Minnesota at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin forward Mathieu De St. Phalle (12), from left, celebrates a goal with Wisconsin defenseman Corson Ceulemans (4) and Wisconsin forward Roman Ahcan (13) during the second period against Minnesota at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
Wisconsin forward Liam Malmquist (23) trips up Minnesota defenseman Mike Koster (6) during the third period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
UW's Brock Caufield shoots the game-winning goal in overtime against Minnesota last Friday at the Kohl Center.
Wisconsin forward Carson Bantle (21) and teammate Jesper Peltonen (14) celebrate the Badgers 4-3 win over Minnesota with Wisconsin goaltender Jared Moe (35) at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. KAYLA WOLF, STATE JOURNAL
