Jan. 30, 2010

Box Score | Box Score

DULUTH, Minn.--The Wisconsin men's hockey team (15-7-4, 11-6-3 WCHA) was shutout for the first time this season as it fell 4-0 at Minnesota Duluth (17-10-1, 13-6-1 WCHA) Saturday night.

Just like last night, the Bulldogs struck first. From just inside the blue line, junior forward Justin Fontaine ripped a slap that found the net. At the 18:45 mark of the first, the Bulldogs were ahead, 1-0.

Minnesota Duluth struck again shortly after. On the power play at 16:48, sophomore defenseman Brady Lamb scored from the point through a screen to give the Bulldogs the early two-goal advantage. Starting UW goaltender Brett Bennett (Williamsville, N.Y.) was replaced by junior Scott Gudmandson (Sherwood Park, Alberta) after stopping one of UMD's first three shots.

At 13:21 of the second period, sophomore forward Mike Connolly added another goal for UMD. After freshman John Ramage (St. Louis) lost his stick. UMD worked the puck into the UW corner. The Bulldogs won the battle and skated behind the UW net. A centering pass found an open Connolly for an easy finish. The Bulldogs were now on top, 3-0.

Just over six minutes into the third period, Bulldog junior forward Rob Bordson added to Minnesota Duluth's lead and closed out the scoring. Bordson redirected a shot from the boards after a UMD steal on a Gudmandson pass up the boards to make it 4-0.

Penalties played a large part in the game. The Badgers were 0-for-5 on the penalty play, while the Bulldogs scored on one their nine chances. It was the UW penalties that wrecked any chance at a comeback by repeatedly stopping momentum gains.

When all was said and done, UMD edged UW in shots-on-goal, 31-28.

Bennett absorbed the loss and dropped to 7-5-0. Gudmandson made 26 saves in the relief effort. Bulldog goaltender Kenny Reiter stopped all 28 Badger attempts, as his record rose to 9-5-0.

The Badgers get back into action next week, as the team welcomes the Michigan Wolverines for the Culver's Camp Randall Hockey Classic outdoors at Camp Randall Stadium. The puck will drop at 5 p.m.

Brady Hartung, UW Athletic Communications