Gophers Fall to Badgers
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) -- Vinni Lettieri scored a pair of goals including one in the opening minute, but it wasn't enough as the No. 4 Gopher Hockey program moved into a tie for first in the Big Ten with a 3-2 loss to No. 19 Wisconsin on Friday night at Mariucci Arena. A game heard on 1340 KROC AM.
The Gophers (20-9-2 overall, 11-4-0-0 Big Ten) struck just 28 seconds into to the contest when Lettieri batted in his 16th of the year off a feed from Taylor Cammarata and dJake Bischoff.
The lead would hold through the first, but the Badgers (18-10-1, 11-4-0-0) rallied off three-straight goals in the second before weathering a Gophers flurry in the third period. Trent Frederic tied the contest with an even-strength goal at 3:42 before a shorthanded tally from Aidan Cavallini at 7:22 and a power-play goal from Ryan Wagner at 19:04.
Adding insult to injury, Minnesota appeared to reclaim the lead before Wisconsin's shorthanded goal but a review showed that Rem Pitlick's attempt rolled down the goal line without crossing it, and the momentum quickly shifted in favor of the visitors.
Lettieri added his career-high 17th goal of the year at 11:52 when the senior blasted a one-timer off Wisconsin goalie Jack Berry's glove and in to cut the lead to one midway through the third.
The Gophers continued to pepper Wisconsin until the final buzzer -- outshooting the Badgers 38-18 overall and 18-7 in the third -- but the visitors held on to snap Minnesota's six-game home winning streak.
The Teams close out the border battle tonight at 7 at Mariucci Arena.
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