The Gophers will get another chance to win a Big Ten regular-season championship on Saturday night.
This second chance could help remedy any emotional hangover the Gophers have after the dramatic final minute of a 4-3 loss to rival Wisconsin that delayed any championship celebrations Friday night at Mariucci Arena.
The Gophers thought they had tied the score with five seconds remaining after scoring back-to-back goals in the final minute of the third period. Thirty seconds earlier the fans were heading for the exits before returning to their seats expecting overtime.
Then their cheers turned to boos when the would-be game-tying goal was waved off following an extended review of the play. The instant replay showed the officials that the Gophers were offsides before Tommy Novak netted what would have been his second goal of the night. Gophers coach Don Lucia agreed with the call.
Wisconsin survived the remaining seconds to spoil the Gophers' chance to claim a third consecutive Big Ten championship and fifth straight regular-season conference title carrying over from the WCHA.
"It's never fun thinking you tied it up and having a review," Novak said. "It just didn't go our way this time, but we still have a chance to win it [Saturday] so we come back and make up for it."
Michigan blew by Penn State 7-1, spoiling the other scenario that would have crowned the Gophers.
Vinni Lettieri led the Gophers with a goal and assist. Leon Bristedt and Novak each scored one goal.
Minnesota native Grant Besse, a Benilde-St. Margaret's product, led Wisconsin with two goals. Goaltender Matt Jurusik had 32 saves.
"It's too bad," Lucia said. "I thought we tied in dramatic fashion. But, you know, that's kind of how it's been for us this year. The first period, we couldn't see the forest through the trees. You want the prize, but we didn't play well enough."
The Gophers led early after Bristedt's power-play goal, but the early momentum faded quickly. The Gophers managed just four shots on goal in the first period while Jedd Soleway and Luke Kunin scored to put the Badgers ahead 2-1.
Soleway's night ended before the first intermission after he was ejected for checking from behind. Gophers defenseman Jake Bischoff went head first into the boards and was slow to get up but returned to the game in the second period.
The Gophers looked lifeless early in the second period after failing to get a shot on goal during a three-minute power play. Besse then continued his streak of punishing the Gophers with his eighth goal in the rivals' past eight meetings. He added a ninth goal into an empty net with 1:16 left in the game to build a two-goal cushion.
Novak answered 23 seconds later to make it 4-3.
"I thought we had it," Besse said before explaining his emotions the final minute. "It was more of a high, low and then a relief.
"[Saturday will] be fun. Obviously they're competing for a championship right now and we're trying to get to our top form for the Big Ten tournament."
