Wisconsin Badgers
5-0-2, 1-0-0
#19/18 Minnesota
2-6-1, 0-1-0
Fitzgerald helps lift undefeated Wisconsin over Minnesota
October 30, 2025 | Men's Hockey
Badgers earn 5-2 victory in first conference game of the season
MADISON, Wis. – Christian Fitzgerald's two-goal, three-point game lifted the undefeated No. 14 Wisconsin men's hockey team past the No. 19/18 Minnesota Golden Gophers, 5-2, on Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
After a scoreless first period, Wisconsin (5-0-2, 1-0-0 Big Ten) broke the silence 5:26 into the second frame with a power-play goal from Christian Fitzgerald. Less than 40 seconds later, Minnesota (2-6-1, 0-1-0 Big Ten) responded to tie the game. Wisconsin tallied twice more in the second, with Blake Montgomery finding the back of the net at 11:13 and Logan Hensler scoring at 11:56 to make it 3-1, Badgers. To cap off a high-scoring second frame, Minnesota scored its second goal of the evening at 17:08 into the frame and UW skated into the third period with a 3-2 lead.
At 2:19 into the third period, Tassy redirected a Fitzgerald shot for the team's second power-play goal of the night before Fitzgerald hit the empty-net to complete to help the Badgers to a 5-2 victory.
How it Happened
Despite each team having a power play in the first period, neither was able to convert on any scoring chances to take a lead.
Wisconsin opened the scoring 5:26 into the second period when senior forward Fitzgerald scored on the power play.
HEY THERE, FITZMAGIC 🪄
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 31, 2025
Fifth goal of the year for the senior (@13Fitzgerald)
🍎: Ben Dexheimer & Quinn Finley pic.twitter.com/iBcPLvUfaV
Less than 40 seconds later, at 6:05 into the period, Minnesota's Mason Moe evened the score at one.
At 11:13 into the second, freshman forward Montgomery lit the lamp for the second time in as many games after putting home a pass to the net front from freshman forward Vasily Zelenov.
Vas ➡️ Monty ➡️ Back of the net
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 31, 2025
Goals in back-to-back games for the freshman!
🍎: Vasily Zelenov & Kyle Kukkonen pic.twitter.com/vLGwnYkqNi
Forty-three seconds later, at 11:56, sophomore defenseman Hensler netted his second goal of the season.
BORDER BATTLE GOAL FOR THE MINNESOTA NATIVE! 🤩
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 31, 2025
Second of the year for Hensler (@LoganHensler)
🍎: Kyle Kukkonen pic.twitter.com/LDYhnp4Ezi
The Gophers made it a one-goal game 17:08 into the second when Brodie Ziemer scored on the power play.
In the third period, at 2:19 into the frame, Tassy scored when the puck hit his shin pad on its way into the net for UW's second power-play goal on the night. The tally was originally credited to FItzgerald.
WATCH OUT FOR FITZY ON THE POWER PLAY 👀
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 31, 2025
Second of the night for the senior (@13Fitzgerald)
🍎: Ben Dexheimer pic.twitter.com/3pZFbe8Zuc
To complete the hat trick, Fitzgerald hit the empty net, 18:45 into the third, and the Badgers won, 5-2.
HAVE YOURSELF A NIGHT, CHRISTIAN FITZGERALD 🎩
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 31, 2025
Second hat trick of the season for Fitzmagic (@13Fitzgerald)
🍎: Gavin Morrissey & Simon Tassy pic.twitter.com/k4jjqALZux
Wisconsin went 2-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 43-16 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
- Christian Fitzgerald's six goals through seven games matches his 2024-25 season total he recorded in 37 games.
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On Fitzgerald's performance
"He's somebody who's given a lot over the last summer to refocus and build confidence through his work ethic. Even at times when he has not maybe been productive offensively, as far as being rewarded for the work, he's blocking shots, he's killing penalties, he's winning face-offs shorthanded. It's amazing in this game that I think when you give, you get, and he's been giving a lot, and it's great to see him have some success. The one thing we've been trying to poke him a little bit is to shoot the puck a little bit more, and he grabbed that one and snapped it off, and we had some traffic out front, and he was rewarded for it."
On the Montgomery-Zelenov-Kukkonen line
"They were dynamic offensively and defensively. When they were on the ice for the majority of the time, it was at the [offensive] end. When we can have two freshmen with a senior and going out and establishing that, maybe we couldn't find another group to do that early. I thought those guys were really good through the first period and a half."
Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald
On what's going well for him this season
"It's been huge for me to have a shoot-first mentality. At times, I look to overpass, so a shot first mentality has been the biggest thing."
Senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer
On the team's defense
"Our D-core is really solid this year. We're a tight group, and we kept saying on the bench, 'keep things sharp and simple,' and we stuck to that in the third. It showed by not giving up much, and our forwards were getting back and getting pucks out, which helped a ton."
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series against Minnesota on Saturday, Nov. 1. The game begins at 6 p.m. and streams on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA as well as on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
Buy tickets here – fans are encouraged to wear light-colored clothing to help us White Out the Kohl Center, and there will be a Border Battle rally towel arena giveaway while supplies last.
