BADGERS SHUT OUT BY MINNESOTA
December 06, 2002 | Men's Hockey
The 10th-ranked Minnesota Gophers (8-4-4, 6-2-2 WCHA) handed the Badgers (5-10-0, 1-6-0) their fifth straight loss and eighth in the last nine games Friday night. Wisconsin was shutout 3-0 by UM, in front of 11,845 at the Kohl Center.
The shutout was the second time in the last four games for the Badgers and gives the UW just four goals in the last six games.
The first period saw both goaltenders combine to stop all 22 shots with UW goalie Scott Kabotoff (Strathcona, Alberta) stopping 13 shots and the Gophers ' Travis Weber stopping nine. The contest stood at 0-0 heading into the first period.
The first goal of the game was the result of a UW turnover while on the power play. Minnesota freshman Chris Harrington, stripped the puck from a Badger defender at the UM blueline and after exchanging passes with teammate Nick Anthony, scored shorthanded to give the Gophers a 1-0 lead at the 7:20 mark of the period.
Minnesota expanded its lead when Thomas Vanek knocked the puck away from the Badgers in the neutral zone. Senior defenseman Matt DeMarchi picked it up and passed it to rookie Gino Guyer coming across the crease who tallied his seventh goal so far this season.
Dan Welch sealed Minnesota's victory with an unassisted power play goal just 30 seconds before the end of the third period. Welch gained control of the puck on the left of Kabotoff and beat him glove side for the final tally of the game.
Kabotoff made 31 saves in the game, while Weber made 34.
The second game of the border battle series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. tomorrow night at the Kohl Center.
