Wisconsin held a two-goal lead going into the third period but a crazy ending had the Badgers clinging to a 4-3 win over Minnesota Friday night.
The name of the game in the first two periods was the power play. Minnesota would strike first on the first power play thank to Leon Bristedt.
Bristedt fired a shot that deflected off of Wisconsin goalie Matt Jurusik bounced into the air and landed behind Jurusik and into the net to give the Gophers an early 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin would answer on the power play of their own, thanks to the freshman Luke Kunin. Kunin slapped a one timer on net and Jedd Soleway was right in front to deflect it into the net to tie up the game.
Minutes later Soleway would pick up a five-minute major form checking from behind. The same play, Bristedt would pick up a two minute minor for roughing and the rest of the first period would be played 4 on 4. Seconds after the face off to begin four on four hockey Wisconsin got to work.
Kunin stole the puck deep in Minnesota’s zone and slid a beautiful shot five hole past Minnesota’s Scheirhorn with just seconds remaining in the first.
Riding the momentum into the second period Grant Besse got in on the action with a power play goal of his own to put Wisconsin up 3-1 going into the third period.
It was Besse’s first power play goal of the year but was his team leading 31st point of the season.
Jurusik played a solid second period as well, not allowing a goal in the second stanza. He posted NUMBER of saves on the night.
The real action came late in the third period right after Matt Camarata pulled the Gophers within one to make the score 3-2.
With less than two minutes to play, Minnesota pulled their goalie and Besse slid in an empty net goal for his second of the night to give the Badgers a commanding two-goal lead with just over a minute to play.
Minnesota came from behind to make it interesting scoring a goal with under a minute to go to pull the game to 4-3. With another empty net Besse looked to put the game out of reach again with a pass to Luke Kunin with no one near the two forwards. The play was called off sides and the score remained 4-3.
With 12 seconds left, Minnesota rushed into the Badger zone on the stick of Hudson Fasching. Fasching found a wide-open Tommy Novak who slid it past Jurusik to score what looked like the game tying goal with five seconds left.
The goal went under official review to look at the net which came off its mooring during the play. After a lengthy review, the goal was called off on what looked like a missed off sides call on the play.
The Badgers escaped with a 4-3 win and will face off against the Gophers tomorrow at 7 pm.
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