Top-ranked Wisconsin preserved its perfect season by extracting a tie plus shootout victory against 18th-ranked Minnesota in the season’s first border rivalry clash. The Badgers (6-0-1, 2-0-1 Big Ten) faced a formidable wall in Minnesota senior goaltender Luca Di Pasquo, who recorded 41 saves to keep the game scoreless through regulation. This gritty performance marked a stark contrast to Wisconsin’s previous weekend, where it dismantled Notre Dame with lopsided 7-1 and 9-1 victories, proving the team’s resilience against a tougher defensive structure.
Key Match Highlights & Tactical Analysis
The contest ended in a 1-1 draw for official records, but the extra point in the Big Ten standings proved pivotal. After five minutes of three-on-three overtime failed to produce a winner, sophomore forward Bruno Idžan, the Badgers’ leading goal scorer, stepped up to the plate. Idžan, a native of Croatia, slipped a precise backhander around Di Pasquo on his first attempt to secure the decisive edge. Meanwhile, Minnesota (3-3-3, 1-0-2 Big Ten) recorded its third tie in nine games under first-year coach Brett Larson, extending its unbeaten streak in the conference despite the lack of a full win.
This matchup was the first of three unconventional Thursday-Saturday sets scheduled for the Badgers this season, highlighting the physical and strategic demands of the Big Ten calendar. Di Pasquo was instrumental in keeping the game close, making 16 saves in the second period alone and four in overtime to force the shootout. With the series set to conclude on Nov. 7, Wisconsin’s ability to grind out points in tight, high-stakes environments will be critical as it maintains its top ranking.
Source: Yahoo Sports
