MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's hockey team was locked in a defensive battle with Alaska through two periods on Saturday night. That all changed in the third.
 
The Badgers (6-12-6, 1-7-2-1 Big Ten) broke loose in the final period of regulation, scoring four times en route to a 5-2 victory over the Nanooks (7-15-4, 5-11-4 WCHA) and a series sweep.
 
After the two teams exchanged goals in the first three minutes of the third period, Wisconsin turned up the pressure over the course of the next six minutes to bury the Nanooks.
 
"We got the timely goals tonight that we haven't had earlier in the season, to get the lead, to get scored on and then get that right back," head coach Mike Eaves said. "The timely goal was there tonight and the timely saves."
 
UW started the third period on a power-play carryover from the second period, and Luke Kunin scored 50 seconds into the frame to make it 2-1. But Alaska tied it up when Austin Vieth slipped one past UW goaltender Matt Jurusik at the 2:42 mark.
 
Like Friday night though, Wisconsin had a quick and impactful response after Alaska tied the game.
 
Just 1:07 after the Nanooks knotted the game at two, the Badgers promptly untied the score off a rush into the Alaska zone. Jake Linhart started that rush out of the UW defensive zone and fed Cameron Hughes as he raced down the left wing. Hughes then zipped a pass to Linhart as he crashed to the net,
and Linhart tapped it home to give the Badgers the lead back for good.
 
"If we just stick to our game plan, good things are going to happen," Kunin said. "Like you saw there, we were rolling in the third. They had one there that we wish we could've taken back, but when we're playing the way we want, good things are going to happen."
 
The Badgers were not done there. Less than a minute after UW went up 3-2, Alaska took a penalty to send UW back to the power play, where it would convert for the second time in the period.
 
Following a scramble in front of Alaska goaltender Davis Jones, Seamus Malone tracked down the loose puck in the left circle, spun and found a wide-open Hughes in the right circle. Hughes ripped a one-timer past Jones to give the Badgers a two-goal cushion.
 
"That was a fun night for sure," Hughes said. "When the puck is going in the back of the net, that's the best part about hockey. It was a lot of fun."
 
Matthew Freytag finished off the scoring with 8:17 left in the third period, buzzing a one-timer of his own past Jones off a pass from Ryan Wagner.
 
"It was fun to watch them on the bench in the third period," Eaves said. "They kind of took over and they were coaching each other. When that happens, that's good growth."
 
Will Johnson started the scoring for the Badgers with his goal 4:25 into the first period of play, while UW goaltender Matt Jurusik 30 of 32 shots to pick up his second straight win.
 
Wisconsin has a bye next weekend before returning to the Kohl Center in two weeks to take on Michigan. Both games are at 7 p.m. on Feb. 12-13.