Gophers Drop Series Opener at Wisconsin 4-2

Video: Don Lucia and Mike Hoeffel Following Friday's Loss at Wisconsin

Another close matchup in the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry went the Badgers way this time in a 4-2 decision on Friday in Madison, Wis.

It marked the 13th time in the last 14 meetings that the teams played a game decided by two goals or less. It was a one-goal game until the final two minutes when Ben Street sealed the Badgers' victory on a goal with 1:52 left.

Blake Geoffrion had two goals for Wisconsin, including a goal just 24 seconds into the game. Wisconsin finished with a 32-18 advantage in shots and the win marked the Badgers' third straight tight win in the series after posting a pair of one-goal wins at Mariucci Arena in February. The 18 shots on goal were the Gophers' fewest in a game since Jan. 28, 2006 at Wisconsin.

Minnesota fell to 2-4-1 overall and in conference play with the loss, while Wisconsin won for the third straight time in improving to 4-2-1 overall and 2-2-1 in league play. The Badgers will try to sweep the Gophers at the Kohl Center for the first time since 1999-2000 when the teams play again Saturday at 7 p.m.

Geoffrion tallied the first goal by tipping in a bouncing puck off his skate off a shot by Ryan McDonagh from the blueline. It was the only goal of the first period that saw Wisconsin hold a 12-6 advantage in shots.

Minnesota tied the game at 1:31 of the second period on a perfectly executed goal by Mike Hoeffel and Jordan Schroeder. After Nico Sacchetti started the breakout from the far corner, Schroeder drew Badgers' goaltender Brett Bennett to his side and passed across to Hoeffel, who buried the puck into the vacated net.

The Gophers' lead didn't last long as Wisconsin regained its advantage just 43 seconds later on an unassisted goal by Cody Golubef. The play started with a Minnesota turnover at the blueline. Golubef collected the loose puck and finished with a backhand shot.

Sacchetti had one of the Gophers' best scoring chances of the game later in the period, putting a quality shot on net from close range. Bennett made the save and the puck bounced right back to Sacchetti, who lofted the shot over the cage from just a few feet away.

Geoffrion gave the Badgers a 3-1 lead at 10:16 of the second period with a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat Minnesota goaltender Alex Kangas through the legs.

Neither team mounted many scoring chances early in the third period, but Minnesota finally came through on a power play with a goal from Patrick White at the 8:47 mark. The Gophers, who had been 1-for-32 on the man advantage for the season and 0-for-3 in Friday's game, got the goal on a scramble in front of the net that White was able to win. Mike Carman and Tony Lucia were also involved in the scrum and picked up assists.

The Gophers nearly tied the game with about five minutes left when a puck bounced off the skate of a Badgers' defenseman and hit the post. The officials confirmed the call by video replay.

Street's goal in the final two minutes came off a picture-perfect pass from Michael Davies and gave the Badgers the two-goal cushion. Minnesota pulled Kangas in the final minute and Geoffrion nearly had a hat trick, but had an open shot from the blueline sail wide.

Kangas made 28 saves for the Gophers, while Bennett finished with 16 saves for Wisconsin. The Badgers were 0-for-3 on the power play and Minnesota finished 1-for-4.