MANKATO, Minn. -- It was a record-setting day for the No. 3 Wisconsin women's hockey team as the Badgers blanked Minnesota State, 6-0, on Friday at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Wisconsin (9-0-0, 7-0-0-0 WCHA) earned its seventh-straight shutout, breaking the WCHA record for consecutive shutouts. The Badgers have not allowed a goal in the past 461 minutes, 15 seconds, a streak that started on Oct. 3 in the first period of UW's 8-1 win over Providence in San Jose, Calif.

"It's been good," UW head coach Mark Johnson said of his team's defense. "Obviously in some of our games Ann wasn't tested, but she made probably three or four real quality saves today. That can certainly change the momentum of the game. We're happy with it, it was a different look today with Sarah Nurse and Emily Clark missing due to the Four Nations Cup, but the kids stepped in and got opportunities and made the most of it."

The Badgers are also off to their best start in program history as this year's squad is the first in UW history to race off to a 9-0-0 start. The Cardinal and White had been 8-0-0 twice prior to this year, but the 2008-09 team tied its ninth game, 1-1 to Minnesota while the 2010-11 squad lost its ninth contest, 7-5, to the Gophers.

"I'm one that doesn't get into numbers or streaks," Johnson remarked. "I figure out how we get better for the next game. That's the focal point, what's up next and getting the team prepared."

The Badgers have outscored their opponents 48-2 during their nine-game winning streak and have tallied five or more goals in six of their nine games this season.

It was a balanced effort for the Wisconsin offense as six different Badgers lit the lamp in its win over Minnesota State (2-8-1, 0-7-0-0 WCHA). Baylee Wellhausen, Sam Cogan, Kim Drake, Rachel Jones, Courtney Burke and Erika Sowchuk all collected goals in the win.

The Badgers got on the board midway through the first thanks to Wellhausen's second goal in as many games to lift UW to a 1-0 lead.

Minutes later, Cogan scored her first career power-play goal, tapping the puck past MSU netminder Brianna Quade, to double UW's advantage.

The second period was lively, as UW outshot Minnesota State 21-10 in the frame. Drake, playing forward after becoming a mainstay on the Badgers' blue line, snuck the puck past Quade for Wisconsin's third strike just three minutes into the stanza.

Jones launched a rocket top shelf for Wisconsin's fourth goal 12 minutes into the period to give the Cardinal and White a 4-0 lead after two periods.

Burke scored on the Badgers' third power play of the game to give UW a 5-0 lead. It marked her 82nd career point, which moved her past Carla MacLeod for fifth on the school's all-time scoring list for defensemen.

Sowchuk capped off the scoring for Wisconsin, knocking the puck into the net after a Jones shot, with her fourth goal of the year.

The Badgers ended the game 2-for-4 on the power play while killing both of their penalties.

Wisconsin outshot Minnesota State 46-16, marking the sixth time this year UW has tallied 40 or more shots in a game.

The Badgers and Mavericks wrap up their series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. matchup.