Badgers split series with No. 1 Minnesota

Sunday, January 10

Madison, WI

4 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

6-6-0, 6-4-0 0-0-0

Minnesota

11-1-0, 9-1-0 0-0-0

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Photo by: Tom Lynn

Badgers split series with No. 1 Minnesota

January 10, 2021 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Ahcan, Peltonen record multi-point games

By: Clara Boudette

MADISON, Wis. — The 12th-ranked Wisconsin men's hockey team (6-6-0, 6-3-0-1 Big Ten) split its home series against No. 1 Minnesota (11-1-0, 9-1-0-0 Big Ten) after coming up short in Sunday's matchup. The Gophers claimed game two, 5-3, after the Badgers handed them their first loss of the season a day prior.

Minnesota opened up the scoring early with a goal at 1:21 in the first period.

Freshman forward Sam Stange got the Badgers on the board at 13:41 with a shot deflected off a Gopher defenseman's stick that trickled into the back of the net. Juniors Roman Ahcan and Jesper Peltonen assisted on the play. Stange is currently the leading goal-scorer among Badger freshmen with five goals.

That's number 5⃣ for Sam Stange this season!

🍎: Roman Ahcan, Jesper Peltonen pic.twitter.com/QCBqcxu5Yw
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2021

Ahcan and Peltonen worked together to find Brock Caufield right on the doorstep to give the Badgers the lead at 11:58 in the second period. However, the lead was short lived after Minnesota recorded a pair of goals at 14:00 and 17:02 and the Badgers headed into the final 20 minutes down by one.

Let's take a look back at @BrockCaufield's goal! 🎬⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wFpboK4v2t
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2021

The Gophers took advantage of an early power play and improved their lead to 4-2 at 2:35 of the third period.

Cole Caufield jumped in on the scoring at 4:12 in the third with a laser over the Minnesota goaltender's shoulder. Ty Pelton-Byce and Linus Weissbach set up the play, finding Caulfield open across the slot.

What an absolute 🚀 from @colecaufield ‼️ pic.twitter.com/WjVO2V9Xjv
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2021

The Gopher's extended their lead again with a quick shot at 17:43 late in the game. The Badgers fought hard to even up the score, pulling the goalie and opting for the extra skater, but came up short in the end.

Senior goaltender Robbie Beydoun was outstanding all weekend against top-ranked Minnesota, finishing with 19 saves in defeat.

Couple of BIG saves from Beydoun 🥅❌ pic.twitter.com/anB8dXbsFG
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2021

Notes to know:

Jesper Peltonen recorded two assists for the first multi-point game of his collegiate career.
Both Caufield brothers scored a goal in the same game for the third time this season.
UW's loss to Minnesota snapped its three-game winning streak against the Gophers when they are ranked No. 1 in the country.

Next Up: UW will stay in Madison for its next series against Arizona State on Jan. 15-16. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. CT, with Friday's game on Fox Sports Wisconsin PLUS, and Saturday on Fox Sports Wisconsin. The last ime the Sun Devils were in town, they swept a short-handed Badgers' squad, 8-5 and 3-1.