Badgers rally to salvage a tie with Gophers

MADISON, WIS. - One night after their nine-game home winning streak was broken -- in an embarrassing 5-2 loss -- Wisconsin salvaged a 3-3 tie with the Gophers on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 and 3-2, the Badgers rallied twice for the tie, which kept them alone in fifth place in the WCHA standings, one point ahead of the Gophers.

There was only one shot on goal -- by Wisconsin -- in the five-minute overtime. Brett Bennett finished with 28 saves for Wisconsin, and Kent Patterson had 31 for the Gophers.

"I really liked the way the kids played all weekend," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "They competed. This was a hard-fought game. A tie was probably a fair outcome.

"It was physical. There was some good goaltending. It was a very good hockey game."

Jacob Cepis gave the Gophers a 3-2 lead 44 seconds into the third period. The senior left winger scored his 10th goal of the season -- and third in three games -- on a breakaway started by defenseman Cade Fairchild's long pass. Cepis also had an assist, on the Gophers' second goal.

"[Jacob] is moving his feet, and he is involved," Lucia said. "It is something we have talked to him about a lot. He has great speed. He is shifty, but he has to move his feet. Before that he was waiting for the game to come to him."

"We are a little disappointed," Cepis said, "but three out of four points against a good team -- we need every point we can get. Down the stretch, we are playing our best hockey. You have to watch out for us."

Wisconsin (19-11-4, 11-10-3) got the tying goal from an unlikely source. Freshman Jefferson Dahl, a fourth-line center, got the equalizer at 3:06 of the third period on a backhander in front. It was the first goal of his college career.

The Gophers (13-12-5, 10-10-4) took a 1-0 lead on Nate Condon's rebound goal on a power play at 13:06 of the opening period. But defenseman Justin Schultz scored 17 seconds later, on a 30-foot shot past a screened Patterson.

The Badgers went ahead 2-1 -- their first lead of the series -- early in the second period. Forward Patrick Johnson, just out of the penalty box, scored on a breakaway. Jake Hansen of the Gophers tied the score 2-2 in the middle of the period, deflecting Cepis' shot from the slot.

Late in the second period, the Gophers had a 5-on-3 power play for 62 seconds, but several shot attempts either sailed wide or got blocked.