9:31–**FINAL SCORE–MINNESOTA 4, WISCONSIN 2**

The Badgers dug themselves too deep a hole in the second period to come back from late. The team’s record is now 0-1-0 when Kevin and I wear suits, and 4-1-2 when Hagstrom wears a tie.

Goals tonight for the Badgers: Blake Geoffrion, Aaron Bendickson.

The teams are back tomorrow night at 7 p.m. We’ll be here too.

9:29–Gopher fans chanted “Overrated!” with under a minute to go. That chant’s probably the most overrated in college sports…

9:26–It looked like the Badgers finally collected some momentum, but have been unable to turn it into anything on the scoreboard. Only 2:18 remaining, and Wisconsin’s still down two.

9:15–**WISCONSIN GOAL–AARON BENDICKSON**

Bendickson was charging towards the net after dumping the pass off to Blake Geoffrion. Geoffrion fired on net, and the puck was deflected by Bendickson. The goal by the Minnesota native came 10:59 into the period. Geoffrion and Goloubef with assists on the play.

**MINNESOTA 4, WISCONSIN 2**

9:11–**MINNESOTA GOAL–JAY BARRIBALL**

Gophers go up 4-1 on Barriball’s fourth goal of the season. Assists to Blake Wheeler and Mike Hoeffel. Gudmandson never saw the puck, as he was watching the pass from Wheeler.

**MINNESOTA 4, WISCONSIN 1**

9:00–Announced attendance tonight here at Mariucci is 10,188. It seats 10,000 but there’s also standing room at the top of each section. So far, the home fans have gotten what they’ve paid for. Not much of a showing from the Badger faithful.

8:55–**WISCONSIN GOAL–BLAKE GEOFFRION**
On the 5-on-3 power play, Wisconsin finally got on the board after Geoffrion took a pass from Kyle Turris on the doorstep and beat Kangas. Davies also recorded an assist.

Still 1:05 on the power play, as just one penalty was killed. Wisconsin still with a chance to get another one.

**MINNESOTA 3, WISCONSIN 1**

8:53–Wisconsin will have an extended 5-on-3, as Minnesota collected two quick penalties. 1:41 remains on the first of the two with 18:47 left in the game. Let’s see if the Badgers can get something going here.

8:49–Scott Gudmandson will play between the pipes for the Badgers in the third period after Connelly had a shaky 3-goal performance.

Gudmandson has played in just four games, going 1-0-2 with a 2.57 GAA.

8:43–UW women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson–whose son Patrick is on the men’s team–is in attendance tonight up here in the press box. The women’s team takes on the Gophers tomorrow and Sunday at Ridder Arena at 4:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. respectively. It’s the Badgers’ final series before the WCHA tournament begins next weekend.

8:33–**END OF PERIOD 2–MINNESOTA 3, WISCONSIN 0**

Instead of drawing even with the Gophers in the second period, the Badgers took two steps back, allowing two more goals in the second period. Carman and White notched goals for Minnesota, who leads in shot totals 26-14.

Play has gotten chippy, with a scuffle in the latter half of the period. Connelly continues to look rattled, giving up big rebounds that have led to a pair of goals (one on the power-play). Offensively, UW hasn’t tested Kangas much at all and could well be on its way to getting shut out for the second time in three games.

The Badgers have come back several times this season, but never from three goals. By the way they’re playing, it doesn’t look like their fortunes will change in the third.

Also on the line tonight is the unbeaten record (3-0-1) when Hagstrom wears a tie to the game. He and I are both donning full suits. Maybe tomorrow we’ll just wear t-shirts and jeans.

8:25–Frustration is clearly setting in for the Badgers, as a fight just broke out. Turris and Geoffrion both received penalties (Geoffrion for goalie interference, Turris for roughing), while Peltier will also serve two for roughing. Geoffrion skated into Kangas after the goalie made the save on Geoffrion’s shot. He was immediately hit by Peltier, and Barriball took down Turris from behind while Turris was standing unprotected but somehow wasn’t called for a penalty.

8:20–**MINNESOTA GOAL–PATRICK WHITE**

Just a minute after Carman scored a power play goal, White took a drop-pass from Justin Bostrom and fired on net. Connelly gave up the initial save but let the puck rebound off his pads, allowing White to put it in.
Time of the goal: 12:32 into the second period. Assists to Bostrom and Lucia.

**MINNESOTA 3, WISCONSIN 0**

8:15–**MINNESOTA POWERPLAY GOAL–MIKE CARMAN**
Carman collected the rebound off an Evan Kaufmann shot that Connelly was unable to control. Carman had the entire right side of the goal to shoot at, and had no trouble putting it home to give the Gophers a two-goal lead. Minnesota had the 5-on-4 advantage after a Cody Goloubef penalty.

**MINNESOTA 2, WISCONSIN 0**

8:02–Badgers are looking a bit better here to start the second period, getting a few chances in front of the net. Still nothing to show on the scoreboard though.

7:39–**END OF PERIOD 1–MINNESOTA 1, WISCONSIN 0**

The Badgers were only able to get five shots on net, while allowing the Gophers to put up 11 against Connelly. Peltier provided the only goal of the period for Minnesota, on a nice cross-ice pass from Carman.

7:24–**MINNESOTA GOAL–DEREK PELTIER**
Peltier took a cross-ice pass from Mike Carman and fired stick-side to beat Connelly. Peltier’s second goal of the season came with 9:49 remaining in the period, and was assisted by Carman and Ryan Flynn.

**MINNESOTA 1, WISCONSIN 0**

7:22–A puck just went over the boards and hit a fan in the head. Mariucci doesn’t have any nets behind the goals, so flying pucks are even more dangerous here. It looks like the woman is OK after an attendant came to check on her.

7:20–No score yet, but the Gophers have tested Connelly and the Wisconsin defense early and often. UW has been unable to get anything going offensively and has let UM control the puck in the Wisconsin zone. The Gophers lead the shot total 6-3 with 11:29 to play in the first period.

6:53–The line charts are in. No major changes for UW.

**Wisconsin**

Geoffrion–Turris–P. Johnson; Davies–Street–Ford; Mitchell–Dolan–Grotting; Engel–Bendickson–Turnbull

Drewiske–Klubertanz; McDonagh–McBain; C. Johnson–Goloubef

Connelly

**Minnesota**

Gordon–Wheeler–Barriball; Lucia–Carman–Flynn; Hoeffel–White–Bostrom; Pohl–Kaufmann–Howe

Peltier–Fischer; Fairchild–Bickel; Wehrs–Anderson

Kangas

6:49–The Gopher pep band is making their rounds around the Mariucci concourse. They played some drum cadences and are now playing their school song, the “Minnesota Rouser.” The count of how many times they’ve spelled out their name is now at two. The over/under is set at five.

6:35–In case anyone reading this would rather watch the game on TV, good luck. It’s on Big Ten Network.

You’re stuck with us for tonight.

6:12–The Gophers have [hockey cheerleaders](http://www.gophersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&ATCLID=613735&SPID=3463&SPSID=60671)…They’re warming up on the ice right now. It seems like it’s a trend that’s becoming more popular, with some NHL teams having them as well. Minnesota State also had cheerleaders earlier in the year.

I guess the UW Spirit Squad doesn’t know how to skate.

5:50–Welcome to the Extra Points blog, where we’re blogging live at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, where the Badger men’s hockey team is set to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a two-game series.

Wisconsin (14-12, 10-10-4 WCHA) is coming off a weekend split at home against Minnesota State, the team with which they are tied in the conference standings at fourth. The Gophers have continued to slide late in the season, picking up just one point last weekend against Denver on the road.

Mariucci Arena has a nice atmosphere about it. There’s no one in the stands yet, but it’s got a nice feel. It’s significantly smaller than the Kohl Center, seating just about 10,000 fans. It’s all one level, consisting of just a lower bowl. On either side of the arena are two large “M”s formed by a pattern of yellow chairs amid the surrounding maroon ones. The concourse is wide open, allowing fans to catch the action even while they’re waiting in line for a hot dog.

It’s a busy weekend for the Badgers here in Minneapolis. The women’s hockey team faces the Gophers tomorrow and Sunday at nearby Ridder Arena, while Jolene Anderson and the women’s basketball team tips off agaisnt Minnesota at 11 a.m. Saturday at Williams Arena next door to Mariucci. For any Badger fans in town for the hockey game, the basketball game would be a good chance to take in the unique atmosphere of “The Barn.”

Still over an hour here ’til opening faceoff. The team is doing their warmup stretches in the concourse of the arena, something I definitely haven’t seen before. Puck drops at 7.