The Wisconsin Badgers 10-game winning streak over the Minnesota Gophers came to an end Friday night as a quick four-goal outburst in the third period gave the road team a 5-1 win. Despite the return of
both Laila Edwards and Kirsten Simms in game one of the weekend series, Wisconsin was unable to match Minnesota’s firepower.
No. 1 Wisconsin (10-1, 6-1 WCHA) appeared to be in control of the game for much of the first two periods. Junior Cassie Hall gave the Badgers a lead early in the second period, knocking in her own rebound for her 11th goal of the season and the 50th of her career.
That lead held for much of the period before No. 3 Minnesota (10-1, 6-1 WCHA) got it rolling, with Josefin Bouveng beating Ava McNaughton to pull even late in the second. The game-tying goal was set up by fifth-year standout Abbey Murphy, who stood at the blue line to receive the puck as Minnesota gained the offensive zone, then fired a perfect saucer pass through traffic to a streaking Bouveng. It was a perfect tape-to-tape pass, needing only one touch to redirect the puck into the Badger net.
All things considered, Wisconsin had to like their chances going into the third tied. The Badgers were outshooting the Gophers 35-22 and creating a plethora of scoring chances; however, Minnesota flipped the script and took control of the game as soon as the final frame began, spelling disaster for Wisconsin.
The Gophers took the lead roughly two minutes into the period and never looked back, scoring again to bump the lead to two with 15:30 remaining. The Badgers have had a flair for the dramatic comeback, especially against Minnesota, but the Gophers nipped that in the bud when Bouveng scored her second and made it a 4-1 game with 11:47 to go. Bouveng’s second came on the power play, the first goal surrendered by Wisconsin’s penalty kill this season.
Things went from bad to worse just 30 seconds later, when Abbey Murphy chipped in for her 15th goal of the year and officially put an end to Ava McNaughton’s night. Freshman Rhyah Stewart came in to finish the game between the pipes, making four saves in her third collegiate appearance (not her first appearance, as the B1G+ commentary team mentioned multiple times) to hold the deficit for a 5-1 final score.
The Gophers just outlasted the Badgers, no two ways about it. They continued to get stronger as the game went on, outshooting the Badgers 16-6 in the third period and playing the game at their tempo. Minnesota also held Wisconsin to just one power play opportunity all the way back in the first period.
Minnesota goaltender Hannah Clark stood on her head, playing her best game to help rally a Gopher squad that already took the ice with something to prove. Clark made 40 saves against a Badger team that attacks from all angles. It just felt like Wisconsin needed to get another one past her with their 24-shot onslaught in the second period, but Clark was up the task. The brick wall she built in the second period laid the foundation for Minnesota’s runaway win.
Wisconsin has been so good for so long, you just knew there was an off game coming somewhere on the schedule. While Edwards and Simms returning was good news, it also meant shuffling the lines for the third series in a row. Simms joined the second line, while the new top line consisted of Claire Enright, Maggie Scannell, and Lacey Eden. There is no doubt about Wisconsin’s depth, but new lines require time to gel, and that’s a tricky proposition with a game Gopher squad breathing down your neck.
I will say this, while I think Wisconsin is the most talented team in the country and still my pick to win it all, it’s not crazy to say Minnesota has played like the best team in the country through one month of the season. They now hold wins over both Ohio State and Wisconsin, and Abbey Murphy is easily the early favorite for the Patty Kazmaier Award. Their 10-game Border Battle losing streak made it easy to forget just how dangerous this Minnesota team is.
But, don’t let a 5-1 loss fool you. Wisconsin is every bit as dangerous. The Badgers haven’t taken a loss like that since 2023, and the best part about laying an egg on Friday is they get to turn right back around and play on Saturday. I know I wouldn’t want to be skating opposite an angry Wisconsin team. Whatever chip Minnesota played with on Friday should be in the Badger locker room on Saturday, because now Wisconsin has something to prove.
