Luke LaMaster and Anthony Kehrer vs. Minnesota
Bruce Fedyck
4
Wisconsin WIS 7-11-0, 1-9-0
6
Winner Minnesota MIN 15-5-0, 10-2-0
Wisconsin WIS
7-11-0, 1-9-0
4
Final
6
Minnesota MIN
15-5-0, 10-2-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Wisconsin WIS 2 0 2 4
Minnesota MIN 3 3 0 6

Game Recap: Men's Hockey | | Clara Boudette

No. 3 Minnesota pulls past Badgers

Caufield tallies goal and assist

MINNEAPOLIS — The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team fell short of No. 3 Minnesota (15-5-0 10-2-0 0-0-0 Big Ten) in the fall semester series finale at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The Badgers opened strong and had a two-goal lead in the first period but were stunned by Minnesota's offense, which took advantage of a 4-on-4 and major power play to jump start a six-goal stretch. The Badgers (7-11-0, 1-9-0 0-0-0 Big Ten) battled back in the third period with a pair of goals, but couldn't regain the lead.

Corson Ceulemans got UW on the board with a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 11:37 in the first period. Brock Caufield got the puck in the corner and passed to Mathieu De St. Phalle behind the net. He traded the puck with Ceulemans before setting the defenseman up for a one-timer with Carson Bantle providing a screen.



Caufield gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead three minutes later when he capitalized on a loose rebound. Sam Stange cycled the puck high in the Gopher's zone and connected with Mike Vorlicky on the blue line. His shot was blocked by traffic where Caufield swept it past goaltender Justen Close and into the net.

After a major penalty call on Charlie Stramel for head contact, Minnesota took advantage with three-straight goals to close out the first period.

Rhett Pitlick scored four-on-four from the doorstep at 17:37, assisted by Cal Thomas.

Thirty seconds later, the Gophers went on the man advantage. Jackson LaCombe and Jaxon Nelson dug the puck out of a scrum behind the net and set up Jimmy Snuggerud with a shot from the center of the zone.

Luke Mittelstadt scored a buzzer beater at the end of the period with 0.1 seconds left on the clock.

Minnesota added three more goals to their tally to start the second period. 

Mason Nevers scored a power-play goal on a redirect from Foster and Brodzinski less than a minute into the period.

Connor Kurth and Logan Cooley also tallied in the six-goal, six-minute stretch for Minnesota.

Wisconsin headed into the final period trailing, 6-2.

Three minutes into the third period, Luke LaMaster won a puck battle behind the net and rimmed the puck along the boards for Cruz Lucius, who lit Liam Malmquist with a stretch pass for a breakaway. He outsmarted Close and lifted the puck backhand into the net.



Anthony Kehrer cut into Minnesota's lead again at 6:39. He got possession of the puck in the Gopher's zone and bounced a pass behind the net for Carson Bantle who directed the puck to Lucius. Lucius saw Kehrer coming into the slot and threaded a pass through the zone for the defenseman to hammer into the net.



The Badgers were unable to make up the deficit, falling to the Gophers, 6-4. Wisconsin's 20 shots came short of Minnesota's 24. Kyle McClellan made four saves in net and Jared Moe made 12. 

Notes to know: Next Up: The Badgers are back after the break for the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. Wisconsin faces off with Lake Superior State on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 7:30 p.m. They then face either UMass or Clarkson on Thursday, Dec. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey (TICKETS).
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