Putting up 20 shots on goal in the third period alone with nothing to show for it but a 3-2 loss to a Big Ten rival isn't how the Gophers wanted to end the weekend.
The Gophers had a flurry of scoring chances late in regulation Saturday night against Wisconsin at 3M Arena at Mariucci. They just couldn't bury any. They gave up the game-winner with 9 minutes, 20 seconds left in the game and split the series with the Badgers.
They have at least 40 shots on goal in four of their past five games — and they lost three of those games. The Gophers put 42 on net Saturday.
"The guys are frustrated they couldn't score," coach Don Lucia said. "Hopefully next game, they'll start to go in again."
The loss to No. 14 Wisconsin (10-7-2, 4-3-1-0 Big Ten) ended an eight-game home winning streak for the No. 7 Gophers (10-7-1, 4-5-1-1). Their last home loss was Oct. 13 to Penn State.
Badgers goaltender Jack Berry came up big, in the final minute of the game especially, to get the win and improve to 3-1-0 on the season.
It was 2-2 at the second intermission, and the teams had 22 shots apiece.
"We needed to win that [third] period," Gophers defenseman Jack Sadek said. "It wasn't lack of effort. … I don't know how the puck didn't go in."