DURHAM, N.H. – To reach a fifth consecutive NCAA title game, the Gophers must overcome a major obstacle in Friday's semifinals: Wisconsin's record-setting goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens.

The junior from La Malbaie, Quebec, has posted an NCAA-record 21 shutouts and hasn't allowed a goal over the past five games. That includes a 1-0 victory over Minnesota on March 6 in the WCHA tournament title game.

"You always blame yourself if you lose a 1-0 game," Gophers senior Amanda Kessel said. "You've got to find a way to score. We didn't come out great in the first period, but the second and third period, I honestly think we dominated."

The Gophers outshot the Badgers 27-12 over the final two periods of that game, but the 5-9 Desbiens made several difficult saves.

Her current 300-minute shutout streak isn't Desbiens' longest this season, not even close. She held opponents scoreless for 543 minutes, 53 seconds in October and November during an unprecedented nine-game shutout streak for the Badgers.

Between Desbiens, primary backup goalie Megan Miller and a disciplined defensive corps, the Badgers (35-3-1) have posted 23 shutouts.

"I've been in hockey a long time," said Wisconsin coach and 1980 gold medal winner Mark Johnson. "… Where have you seen that before at any level?"

Minnesota was 16-0-2 in its previous 18 games against Wisconsin heading into this season. This is the third consecutive year the teams have met in the NCAA semis, with the Gophers winning the past two, 5-3 and 3-1.

Desbiens, a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, helped Wisconsin change the script with a December sweep over the Gophers in Madison. Three months later, with Kessel back from her two-year concussion absence, the Gophers swept the Badgers in Minneapolis 4-0 and 4-3 in overtime.

Turns out, Desbiens was sick with flu-like symptoms that weekend and almost didn't play. She was healthy in time to give the Badgers a WCHA tournament title to match their regular-season conference crown.

Kessel scored a hat trick last Saturday against Princeton, as Minnesota (33-4-1) rebounded with a 6-2 victory in the NCAA quarterfinals.

"Right after we won," Kessel said, "we were coming for the Badgers."