The Gophers fell into a hole after surrendering three unanswered goals in the second period but fell just short at the Hockey City Classic, 3-2.
Gopher goaltender Adam Wilcox made 16 stops on goal but it was a three and a half minute stretch in the second period where the Badgers scored three goals on Wilcox to take the lead for good.
Minnesota’s Seth Ambroz would score two minutes into the final period to bring the game within two goals but the Gophers wouldn’t score again until they pulled their goalie with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
In a last-ditch effort with under a second remaining, the Gophers took a shot that bounced off Wisconsin netminder Joel Rumpel’s left pad just before the buzzer sounded.
Rumpel was the key for the Badgers as he made 36 saves en route to his seventh victory of the season. The sophomore made 15 saves in the opening period, before Wisconsin was able to come together as an offensive unit.
The win by Wisconsin splits the weekend series at one-a-piece. The Gophers beat the Badgers in Madison 3-2 on Friday at the Kohl Center.