MADISON, Wis. — Sometimes a tie can feel like a win, even if it ends with the other team celebrating grabbing an additional point via a shootout.
The Minnesota Gophers head home from a two-gamer with their Border Battle rivals with an overtime win and a tie, following Saturday's 1-1 deadlock at the Kohl Center. And as much as he liked nearly everything his team did in the finale, Minnesota coach Bob Motzko walked away feeling that maybe the visitors deserved a better fate.
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William Whitelaw and Quinn Finley scored in a shootout for the Wisconsin Badgers, giving them an extra Big Ten standings in a game that ended officially tied only after two potential Minnesota goals were overturned upon review.
"I loved how we played tonight, start to finish," Motzko said. "To a man on our roster, our compete level was through the roof, we battled, we withstood a couple little spurts early. If we had to start bringing up individual names we'd be here until I got through the roster."
Justen Close had 22 saves for the No. 9-ranked Gophers (16-7-5 overall, 9-5-4 Big Ten), who got a second period goal from Jaxon Nelson after Wisconsin had taken an early lead. Minnesota is now unbeaten in eight of its last nine games.
The Badgers (20-6-2, 11-4-1) got an early goal from Jack Horbach and 42 saves from Kyle McClellan but have now won just one of their last four.
"At times I thought we pushed a little bit and then I thought Minnesota kind of put their foot on the gas there at the end, but we didn't break," Badgers coach Mike Hastings said. "From my standpoint, it's important for us to learn from our wins and our losses and everything in between and we'll do that."
McClellan stopped shootout attempts by Bryce Brodzinski and Rhett Pitlick for the Gophers, who are now 0-11 in shootout attempts this season
Wisconsin opened the scoring when Owen Lindmark clanked a shot off the goalpost, and Horbach backhanded it past Close before the goalie could get into position.
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The Gophers appeared to have tied the game with a little over six minutes left in the middle frame, when Ryan Chesley’s shot from the blue line slipped between McClellan’s knees. Wisconsin challenged the play and after a video review of nearly five minutes, it was determined that Oliver Moore interfered with the goalie, so the goal was taken off the board.
Less than a minute later, Nelson tied the game for real, swatting in a loose puck with both teams scrambling in front of McClellan. For Nelson, it snapped a three-game stretch in which he had been held without a point.
"We feel really good, we're healthy, we're hitting our stride at the right time of the year. This is a fun time of the year and I think we're headed in the right direction," Nelson said, admitting there was frustration after the first disallowed goal. "The puck didn't lie. It was supposed to be a goal, but we go out the next shift and get one, keeping the momentum going and not caring about anything else."
Jaxon Nelson evens the score. 🙌
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey)
An apparent Minnesota go-ahead goal by Mason Nevers with 2:40 left in the third was waved off due to another goalie interference call, and was upheld after review. Nelson had collided with McClellan, but the goalie got up, got back into position and made a save before Nevers' shot went in.
"They were both goals," Motzko said of the two calls that went Wisconsin's way. "C'mon, everybody in hockey knows they were both goals. It's too bad ... Anybody that knows hockey knows they were two goals."
Extra Pucks
Saturday’s announced attendance of 15,359 was the Badgers’ first sellout crowd since Feb. 9, 2019, which was the night they retired Mark Johnson’s number 10 jersey.
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Wisconsin honored its alumni who have played in the NHL on Saturday, with fans encouraged to wear the pro hockey jersey of their favorite former Badger. Recently-retired forward dropped the ceremonial first puck prior to the game. Originally from Hastings, Minnesota, Stepan now works with Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin.
The Gophers return home for a two-game series versus Penn State next weekend. Wisconsin has a home series versus Notre Dame next weekend.
Minnesota 1, Wisconsin 1, OT (Badgers win shootout)
Minnesota 0-1-0-0—1
Wisconsin 1-0-0-0—1
First period — 1. WI, Jack Horbach 5 (Owen Lindmark, Ben Dexheimer), 5:54. Penalties — Cal Thomas, MN (high sticking), 13:02; Charlie Stramel, WI (tripping), 19:31.
Second period — 2. MN, Jaxon Nelson 8 (Mason Nevers, Bryce Brodzinski), 14:33. Penalties — Tyson Dyck, WI (holding), 9:16.
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Third period — No scoring. Penalties — Bench – served by Connor Kurth, MN (too many men), 12:20.
Overtime — No scoring. Penalties — None.
Shootout — Wisconsin: Quinn Finley (score), William Whitelaw (score). Minnesota: Bryce Brodzinski (save), Rhett Pitlick (save).
Shots on goal — MN 15-11-14-3—43; WI 9-8-6-0—23. Goalies — Justen Close, MN (23 shots-22 saves); Kyle McClellan, WI (43-42). Power plays — MN 0-of-2, WI 0-of-2. Referees — Tony Czech, Sean Fernandez. Linesmen — Samuel Shikowsky, Matthew Gerlach. Att. — 15,359.
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