Despite 49 shots, Gophers can muster only a tie with lowly Badgers and suffer shootout loss, read Friday night's game story.

A couple quick thoughts and some video before we're back for an early 5 p.m. start on Hockey Day Minnesota:

Gophers struggling to finish the job

Back-to-back Fridays have ended poorly for the Gophers despite taking leads into the third period. The Gophers gave up a late goal at Michigan and eventually lost in overtime a week ago. The problem followed them home to Mariucci Arena where a 2-0 cushion disappeared in a span of two minutes late in the third period against rival Wisconsin.

They salvaged a tie, but failed in a shootout once again. Senior forward Travis Boyd said it's embarrassing to let up the same way they did at Michigan. You can hear more from him about the growing problem in the game story and below video.

Is Wisconsin really that bad?

The Badgers were undoubtedly one of the worst teams in college hockey through the first half of the season. The young team might have grown up over winter break, though. Since Jan. 1, they are 1-2-2 with three positive outings against highly ranking opponents -- Michigan Tech, Boston University and Minnesota. Here's what senior goaltender Joel Rumpel and coach Mike Eaves have to say about the improving circumstances. Hear from former Mr. Hockey Minnesota Grant Besse in the below video.

"We've been getting better every weekend," Rumpel said. "We have a little bit of setback, but then we come back and play a game like that. It's nice to be able to know we can beat some of the top teams in the league."

"It's interesting, you look at our record, if you were to be at our rink and come down to our locker room and watch us practice, there is great energy. The guys know that their growing," Eaves said. "The results aren't there yet, but they're going in the right direction and this is another bump for us in terms of energy and to keep going."

Friday's box score.

Postgame video
(To view on mobile devices, click on player's/coach's name)

Gophers senior forward Travis Boyd

Gophers coach Don Lucia

Wisconsin sophomore forward and former Mr. Hockey Minnesota Grant Besse