The Badgers and the Mavericks faced off in the cave-like Alltel Center for Wisconsin’s last road series this regular season. There was minimal scoring in the first and third periods, while the second period was riddled with goals and numerous scoring opportunities for both teams.

No goals were scored in the first, but Wisconsin put the first mark on the board just over two minutes into the second period and went on to expand its lead to two. Minnesota State found the net with three-and-a-half minutes left in the period. Each team scored another goal in the last three minutes of the game—Wisconsin first to regain the two-goal lead, and then MSU with less than a minute left to close out the second period. The Mavericks scored the only goal in the third period with less than five minutes left and sent the teams into overtime. MSU found the net to win the game 4-3 with just under two minutes left in the overtime period.

Senior Shane Connelly saved a penalty shot with his leg pad 2:32 into the third period after Trevor Bruess was pulled down on a breakaway. It was the first penalty shot taken against UW since Danny Irmen at Minnesota in 2004.

Sophomore Brendan Smith posted the first score 2:11 into the second period. Junior Jamie McBain sent a point shot into a mix in front of the MSU goal, where Smith finished the play for the 1-0 lead. Junior Blake Geoffrion and senior Tom Gorowsky gave the assists on the power-play goal.

Gorowsky found the net soon after to expand UW’s lead to two. 8:01 into the second, Gorowsky finished a rebound from Smith, scoring on a nearly open net after confusion in the Maverick zone. Junior Andy Bohmbach was also credited with an assist on the power-play goal.

Minnesota State found the net with 3:34 left in the second period. After the puck got loose in the UW zone, Jason Wiley ended up with it directly in front of the Badger net, beating Connelly to make it 2-1.

Soon after, Wisconsin regained its two-goal lead. Junior Michael Davies beat MSU goalkeeper Mike Zacharias to put the Badgers up 3-1 with 2:56 left in the second. Geoffrion and Smith gave the assists on the play.

The Mavericks closed the gap again before the end of the period. Trevor Bruess beat Connelly with 19 seconds remaining to make it 3-2. Mick Berge and Geoff Irwin received the assists.

Kael Mouillierat scored the only goal in the third period for MSU with 4:37 left. He beat Connelly top shelf to tie the game at 3-3 and send the teams into overtime.

MSU found the net first in the overtime period with 1:46 left to play. Jared Stewart beat Connelly for the win on a 3-on-1 goal.