Monday, January 23, 2017

Game Story: Wisconsin's burst ends Gophers hockey win streak at 7 (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

1/22/2017 Game Story

Minnesota 3
Wisconsin 5
FINAL

MADISON, Wis. — With Minnesota leading 2-1 midway through the game Saturday at Kohl Center, coach Don Lucia commented to an assistant coach during a lull in the action that he thought the Gophers needed one more goal to stay in good shape.

His fear held weight. Wisconsin’s offense found the spark it needed, erupting for three goals in a span of 5:06 and energizing a nearly sold-out arena. The Badgers went on to beat Minnesota 5-3 to earn a series split and snap the Gophers’ seven-game winning streak.

“Give it to them. We didn’t earn a win tonight,” said Lucia. “We have been playing really well, and defensively it just wasn’t there tonight.”

Wisconsin coach Tony Granato constantly shuffled his lines, unhappy with his team’s lack of rhythm in the first period for a second straight night.

Minnesota (14-6-2, 6-2-0-0 Big Ten) outshot the Badgers 16-9 over a key stretch and came back from an early Will Johnson goal to take the lead on goals by Ryan Norman and Mike Szmatula.

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