The Gopher men’s hockey team was close all series against No. 12 Wisconsin, but for the second night in a row, the Badgers knocked off the nation’s No. 1 team at the Kohl Center, 2-1.
For the second straight night it was a third period goal that did in Minnesota, this time sophomore Nic Kerdiles lighting the lamp with just over 15 minutes to go to give Wisconsin the win.
Minnesota pulled Adam Wilcox for an extra skater with just over a minute left in the third period, but it did no good, Joel Rumpel shutting the Gopher offense down for the second night in a row.
A goal from Wisconsin with 20 seconds left in the first period gave the Badgers the lead, Grant Besse finishing the chance for Bucky.
Seth Ambroz answered back for Minnesota in the second period on a five-minute power-play sparked by a Jake McCabe rough after the whistle on Kyle Rau, which got McCabe a game misconduct.
But despite McCabe’s absence and the power play continuing after the goal, Minnesota got very few opportunities the rest of the game.
The loss means a sweep at the hands of the Badgers, the first time the Gophers have been swept by any opponent since February of 2011 whem Denver did it.
The Gophers take on Michigan next weekend, the first of their back-to-back series at Mariucci Arena.
