Down goes No. 1! Badgers hand Gophers their first loss

Saturday, January 9

Madison, WI

4 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

6-5-0, 6-3-0-0-1-0

Minnesota

10-1-0, 8-1-0-0-0-0

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Photo by: Tom Lynn

Down goes No. 1! Badgers hand Gophers their first loss

January 09, 2021 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Weissbach, Baker, Lindmark record goals in a 3-1 win

By: Clara Boudette

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin men's hockey (6-5-0, 6-3-0-0-1-0 Big Ten) scored first and knocked off top-ranked Minnesota (10-1-0, 8-1-0-0-0-0 Big Ten), 3-1, on Saturday at LaBahn Arena, handing the Gophers their first loss of the season.

UNDEFEATED NO MORE!

The Badgers claim game one of the series and snap Minnesota's 10 game win streak!#OnWisconsin || @UWHealth pic.twitter.com/oR0TWXttXG
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2021

Weissbach was the first on the board for the Badgers, netting one midway through the second period at 10:44 to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead over the Gophers. Tarek Baker's pass found him in front of the net where he was able to lift the puck up and over Minnesota goaltender Jack LaFontaine. Cole Caufield also recorded an assist on the play.

Here's a look back at Weissbach's goal to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/BUuilnuAza
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 9, 2021

Tarek Baker put the Badgers up by two just 1:59 into the third period, netting his second goal of the season on a feed from Sam Stange and Ty Emberson.

Baker from Stange and Ess ⬇️👀

🚨 2-0 Badgers! pic.twitter.com/I5xW0HT0fU
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 9, 2021

Minnesota got on the board at 7:50 in the third period with a power-play goal from Sampo Ranta, cutting the Badgers' lead in half.

The Badgers closed out the scoring with a short-handed empty-net goal at 19:06 in the third period from Owen Lindmark to give his team the 3-1 win.

EMPTY NET GOAL FROM OWEN LINDMARK 🚨🥅

3-1 Badgers!#OnWisconsin || @culvers pic.twitter.com/fHQJKbmNeQ
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2021

The Badgers effort wasn't complete without a strong performance from goaltender Robbie Beydoun who made 35 saves and kept the Gophers scoreless throughout the first and second periods.

Forwards Cole Caufield and Dylan Holloway joined the Badgers after returning from the World Junior Championship tournament, winning gold and silver medals, respectively. Holloway, who left for Hockey Canada's training camp way back in November, had only played two games with the Badgers this season.

Ty Pelton-Byce also returned to the lineup tonight after sustaining an injury on Nov. 19.

Notes to know:

Weissbach and Caufield are currently tied at six for most goals on the team.
Baker recorded his second goal of the season and recorded two points (1G, 1A)
The Badgers have won three consecutive games against Minnesota when the Gophers were No. 1, taking 2-1 victories on Feb. 6-7, 2014, at the Kohl Center in the most recent prior matchups.

Next Up: The Badgers face Minnesota in a rematch tomorrow, Jan. 10, at 4 p.m. CT. Watch the series finale live on Fox Sports Wisconsin or listen on the Badgers Sports Network.