MADISON, Wis.—The Wisconsin-Minnesota hockey rivalry has produced many exciting games throughout the history of the matchup, and tonight was no different.

Despite coming back from two separate deficits, the Wisconsin men's hockey team (10-8-1, 3-2-0 Big Ten) fell to Minnesota (14-5-2, 6-1-0) 4-3 in overtime at the Kohl Center.

"It was very back-and-forth. We were crashing on their net and they were crashing ours. They got those couple bounces and we didn't get them today," forward Will Johnson said.

Minnesota put the Badgers in a first-period hole after scoring two goals in the opening frame. Leon Bristedt scored four and a half minutes into the period and Mike Szmatula doubled Minnesota's lead halfway through the first. The Badgers would head into the first intermission down by two.

The Badgers fought back in the second period beginning with Luke Kunin's 14th goal of the season just 53 seconds in. The captain collected the puck off of the side boards, drove into the slot and fired a wrist shot past Minnesota goaltender Eric Schierhorn. The lone assist on the play went to Jake Linhart.

Wisconsin knotted the game at 2-2 after Matt Ustaski netted his second goal of the season with under three minutes to go in the middle period. The junior collected a rebound in front of the net and deposited the puck behind the Minnesota goalie. Matthew Freytag was credited with an assist on the play.

"Two games in a row now Matt Ustaski's scored so he's gaining confidence. He's got a lot of skill, and he's going to be a player that we're going to have to continue to push to keep developing because he can be something for us," head coach Tony Granato said. "He's done a lot and I look forward to watching him in the second half. Hopefully he keeps improving and contributing like he has been."

The goal was part of a strong showing on the night from the Badgers' fourth line, consisting of Ustaski, Freytag and Aidan Cavallini.

"Controlling the puck was the message the whole week. Also getting pucks down low and working their defense was the message in practice," Ustaski said. "When it was clicking down low, we were able to create some momentum for ourselves and capitalize on a couple goals."

The game stayed tied at 2-2 for just 2:19 as Minnesota regained the lead on a goal from Tyler Sheehy late in the second period. The goal gave the Gophers a 3-2 lead heading into the final period of play.

In the third period, the Cardinal and White continued their offensive pressure from the previous period and their pressure was rewarded with Trent Frederic's sixth goal of the season. The freshman forward had the puck bounce off of his body after a diving centering pass from Cameron Hughes. Kunin also received a helper on Frederic's goal.

"They really play well off of each other. They all have tremendous skill," Granato said. "Freddy is an elite center and with a goal-scorer on one side of him and a guy that can make a ton of plays on the other. They complement each other really well and they're certainly a go-to line for us."

Both teams continued to push for a winning goal in regulation, with UW's best chance coming in the final seconds of the third period after the puck slid out to an open Corbin McGuire but his shot was blocked.

Over the final two periods, the Badgers outshot the Gophers 25-21.

Minnesota ended the game 1:43 into overtime on a Justin Kloos goal, finishing the game off with a score of 4-3. Jack Berry made 36 saves on the evening.

"It was tough. The bottom line is we have to come out and be ready to play the whole 60," Hughes said. "We did a lot of good things and we need to remember that when we played our game and our style, we had success. I think you all saw it for the last two periods."

The Badgers and Gophers will finish up their series at the Kohl Center on Saturday with puck drop set for 5 p.m. Limited tickets are available.

"It meant a lot. This program and Badger hockey, the energy that the fans and band and community supply is great. It was an entertaining game. It wasn't our best game of the year, but again that's a heck of team over there and we'll be better tomorrow," Granato said. "I look forward to having the same energetic crowd night-after-night now for the rest of the way. We've got a heck of a team to watch, so hopefully we'll continue filling the place and have that energy to support us."

The game will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus, online on BTN2Go and the BTN2Go app, and will be available on the radio on WIBA-AM 1310 and the Badger Sports Network.