Gophers complete sweep, rout Badgers 7-1

Published Feb. 11, 2018 12:01 a.m. ET

It took the Gophers nearly the full 60 minutes to finish off the rival Wisconsin Badgers in the series opener Friday. It took them less than 20 in the finale.

No. 12 Minnesota (18-13-1 overall, 9-10-1-1 Big Ten) scored three goals in the first period Saturday, adding four more in the final 40 minutes, cruising to a 7-1 win and a sweep of No. 17 Wisconsin.

Leon Bristedt, Brent Gates Jr. and Tyler Nanne scored in the first, before Trent Frederic scored the Badgers' only goal at 18:47, cutting Minnesota's lead to 3-1 on a cross-crease pass from Cameron Hughes.

It was all Gophers the rest of the way.

Rem Pitlick scored back-to-back goals in the second period, batting the puck out of the air for his second to put the Gophers up 5-1.

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Tyler Sheehy scored his third of the weekend midway through the third, before Jack Ramsey scored on a 5-on-3 power play at 15:13 to push the Gophers' lead to six goals.

Goaltender Mat Robson got the start after backstopping Minnesota to a 4-2 win in the series opener, turning aside 23 shots on goal. Wisconsin goaltender Jack Berry made just six saves on nine shots in the first before being pulled in favor of Kyle Hayton, who allowed four goals on 27 shots.