04/09/26 07:04:00
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04/09 19:00 CDT Wisconsin beats North Dakota 2-1 to reach its first Frozen Four
final since 2010
Wisconsin beats North Dakota 2-1 to reach its first Frozen Four final since 2010
By MARK ANDERSON
AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill scored 27 seconds apart in
the first period and Wisconsin defeated North Dakota 2-1 on Thursday to put the
Badgers in the Frozen Four title game for the first time since 2010.
The Badgers (24-12-2), seeded third in their region, will play the winner
between Michigan and Denver in the championship game Saturday. Wisconsin has
won six titles, its most recent coming 20 years ago.
Wisconsin defeated North Dakota (29-10-1) for the first time in the NCAA
Tournament after going 0-3 against the Fighting Hawks. Wisconsin, which beat a
No. 1 seed for the second time in a row, had gone 1-11-2 in its previous 14
meetings with the Hawks.
North Dakota, which came less than a minute from being shut out for the first
time in more than a year, has gone a decade since winning its eighth national
championship.
Daniel Hauser stopped 21 shots for the Badgers, including tough glove save
through traffic while sitting down on a 6-on-5 with 2:05 left.
Front-line center Ellis Rickwood scored North Dakota's lone goal on a 6-on-5,
and Jan Spunar made 35 saves.
The Badgers' defense limited a North Dakota offense that entered the game third
nationally in scoring (3.8 goals per game). But Wisconsin's forecheck dictated
the early points and set the tone.
Wisconsin dominated the first period, taking 18 shots on goal to four. The
Badgers scored twice 27 seconds apart when Tassy and Botterill hit the back of
the net from the right circle.
Even when the Hawks had chances, they usually failed to take advantage, going 0
for 5 on the power play, including a 5-on-3 in the second period that lasted
1:56. Ollie Josephson also missed a chance in that period to score on a
breakaway.
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