The Golden Gophers (20-6-3 overall, 11-4-2 B1G) erased a 2-0 deficit at the end of the first period and are unbeaten against the Badgers (11-13-3 overall, 6-10-1 B1G) in their last five meetings. The Maroon and Gold scored twice in the second frame to even the contest, heading into a pivotal third period where it put away two more to break the game open before sealing the 20th win of the season into an empty net. Snuggerud and Ziemer each recorded two goals and two assists, while Påhlsson had a goal and three helpers as the line drove the Gophers’ come-from-behind victory.
It was a physical battle from the opening faceoff, fitting of a 100-plus-year rivalry, but the first shot of the night found the back of the net for the visitors at the 3:03 mark. A screened bid from the point was tipped at the edge of the crease as Wisconsin took an early lead. Minnesota was unable to test the opposing goaltender until nearly eight minutes had elapsed when Ziemer put a shot on target after an offensive-zone faceoff win. The Badgers added their second goal with 8:46 remaining in the opening frame as they jammed home a loose puck near the left post. The Gophers fought to get back in the game and an Aaron Huglen attempt during a 2-on-1 with John Mittelstadt was turned away with a sliding save. It stayed a two-goal deficit at intermission.
The Maroon and Gold flipped the script on the visitors in the second stanza and came out of the locker room with renewed energy. They started building an attack, getting four shots in the first three minutes. After Wisconsin held off the surge, it generated chances of its own that forced netminder Liam Souliere to be at his best to keep it 2-0. The Gophers used their defensemen to start the rush in the middle of the frame, mounting pressure as they searched for their first goal. That came at the 12:49 mark of the period off the stick of Snuggerud. The junior raced around a Badger and ripped home a sharp-angle shot from the right faceoff dot over the goalie’s shoulder, igniting the over-capacity crowd.
After getting the critical goal, it was Souliere that delivered a clutch pad stop for Minnesota on the next shift as the Badgers looked to regain their two-goal advantage. With just 63 seconds remaining in the middle frame, Ziemer pulled the Gophers even, 2-2, burying a rebound in the slot. Påhlsson started the play by driving the net for a wraparound chance and the rebound ended up at the feet of his fellow freshman. Ziemer quickly got the puck to his forehand and slipped a shot under the pads, sending the teams to the third period deadlocked.
Momentum stayed with Minnesota to begin the final frame, but it was Souliere again that was the difference maker, erasing a flurry of Wisconsin shots in a 30-second stretch. His stand gave the Gophers’ offense a chance to take over and it did just that when Påhlsson put away the eventual game winner 5:43 into the period. The Swedish-born forward fooled the Badgers’ goalie and shot to the short side instead of passing after Mike Koster poked free a loose puck that generated an odd-man rush.
Holding the one-goal cushion, Minnesota pounded pucks deep in the attacking zone and did not allow the Badgers any time and space to build a sustained rush. When play broke down, Gopher skaters were there to block shots, while Souliere came through with save after save. Snuggerud and Ziemer scored 20 seconds apart in the game’s final three minutes that put the finishing touches on an impressive comeback effort.
Ziemer caught the Badgers pinching and went behind-the-back to drop a pass to Påhlsson, who threaded a cross-ice feed to the waiting stick of Snuggerud. The Chaska, Minn., product tipped home his second goal of the night, making it a 4-2 contest with 2:32 to play. Wisconsin elected to pull its goalie in the final three minutes, but it was Ziemer that sealed the 5-2 victory into the open cage.
Souliere (9-4-1 overall) closed the night by making 33 saves, including 13 in the third period, recording his second-straight outing with more than 30 stops.
Noteworthy
Snuggerud extended his career-long goal streak to six games, the longest active streak in college hockey, and added two assists to take over as the NCAA’s scoring leader with 41 points this season … The junior posted the 14th multi-point game of the year and 37th of his tenure in Dinkytown, matching a career-best with four points, and has 13 points in the last six games … Snuggerud is now among elite company in program history as his second goal Friday was the 20th of the season, becoming only the third Gopher to score 20 or more goals in three-consecutive seasons to begin their collegiate careers, joining M Club Hall of Famers John Mayasich and Dick Dougherty with the feat that has not been accomplished since 1954 … Ziemer found the scoresheet for the fourth-straight contest, a new career-long streak, and has 11 points across his past nine games thanks to his career-best four points Friday … The Chaska, Minn., native became the Gophers’ fourth player to score double-digit goals in 2024-25 and his 11 goals ranks third in the country among freshmen … For the third time over his past four outings, Påhlsson tallied a multi-assist performance, stretching his point total to 17 behind the first four-point game of his career … He tallied his third goal overall and first since a three-point effort versus Mercyhurst (Jan. 3) … Cal Thomas collected his fifth assist and sixth point of the year, two of which have come over the last five appearances, on the tying goal … Koster pushed his point total to 13, reaching double-digit assists for the fourth-consecutive season, and now has a point in back-to-back games for the third time this year … Friday marked the Gophers’ 20th win of the season, a milestone they have reached in five-consecutive campaigns and 11 times in the last 14 years, and reached that number in the month of January for just the second time in that stretch … The series opener saw a total of four penalties called and both were matching minors as neither team was awarded a power play during the contest … Minnesota entered the night averaging 13.2 shots on goal in the first period of games this season, but totaled only five Friday, the second-lowest total of the year, before firing 16 on target in the two-goal second period … The Gophers surrendered the first goal of the game for the fifth-straight contest … For the first time since joining the Maroon and Gold, Souliere started consecutive outings and made his first Friday start … The announced attendance of 10,747 was the third largest in program history and third-straight sellout for Minnesota.
Coach Motzko’s Comments
“Well, we needed that. The first period is something we’ve been seeing for a while and we needed to dig our heels in and fight,” Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. “The next two periods, we played like we need to play. Liam was great in net and (Snuggerud) was a superstar tonight. We battled after that first period.”
Next Up: Home vs. Wisconsin (Feb. 1)
The Gophers and Badgers play for the fourth and final time during the 2024-25 regular season during a Gold Out inside 3M Arena at Mariucci Saturday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. live on FOX9 and streaming on B1G+ with audio coverage available via the Gopher Radio Network.
