MINNEAPOLIS — Wisconsin finally ended its long losing streak versus Minnesota at 14 games, but the Badgers’ winless streak grew to 17 against the Gophers, who fought back for a 1-1 draw.
Hannah Brandt’s goal with 6:32 left in regulation answered one by Karley Sylvester for Wisconsin (17-3-2, 13-3-2-0 WCHA) late in the second period.
“We played well,” UW coach Mark Johnson said. “When you look at the 60 minutes and the effort we put in – had to kill a penalty in overtime. We did a lot of good things. I think we deserved better than we came away with.”
After neither team could find another tally through the remainder of the the third period or a five-minute overtime, the game went to a three-round shootout, where Brandt was the only skater to convert, earning an additional WCHA point for the Gophers (19-1-3, 12-1-3-1 WCHA).
Minnesota has gone to overtime four times this season, and it rallied to tie late in each of those games.
Wisconsin was able to gain momentum from a successful penalty kill in the second period, and from that point kept the Gophers hemmed into their own zone and unable to change lines for long stretches. It looked like the hosts would be able to escape to their locker room with the game still scoreless, but Sylvester was able to pop a rebound by Amanda Leveille with 22 seconds to the horn, the senior’s second goal in as many days. Courtney Burke and Annie Pankowski earned the assists.
“Quite frankly, I thought we were fortunate to be down only 1-0 after the second period,” coach Brad Frost said.
Johnson juggled his lines from Saturday’s chart, and it paid dividends.
“Moving Sylvester up there [with Pankowski and Emily Clark] was a big move for them,” Frost said. “It just significantly strengthens that line and makes them more dangerous.”
The Badgers appeared on their way to victory, but Meghan Lorence got the puck to the net and Brandt got a stick on it in midair before Ann-Renée Desbiens could secure it with her glove.
“At that point, anything goes, and we’re just trying to put the puck any way it can get in the net,” Brandt said.
Lee Stecklein had the other helper, as Brandt finished with three goals for the series.
“We were not at our best tonight; we looked somewhat sluggish and tired,” Frost said. “I’m proud of our kids with the guts that they showed.”
In the shootout, Brandt picked the top corner on the glove side.
“[I] don’t set anything in stone before I go, because when I try to do that, I always end up missing,” Brandt said. “I just try to see what’s open when I come down.”
Desbiens was able to deny the other Gophers, finishing with 29 saves.
“She had a good, solid game,” Johnson said. “All you ask your goalie to do is give you a chance to win the game. We needed her today, especially the early part of the first period and the early part of the second. She played well.”
Leveille made 32 stops, then three in the shootout, the final one following a video review.
“My focus was just on stopping the next puck,” Leveille said.
Wisconsin retains a tenuous one-point lead atop the WCHA standings, but the Gophers have two games in hand.
