MADISON, Wis.—Coming off a back-and-forth game on Friday night, the Wisconsin men's hockey team found themselves in another tough battle on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.

Fortunately for the Badgers (17-10-1, 10-4-0-0 Big Ten), they found themselves on the winning end once again as they defeated Michigan (9-16-3, 2-10-2-2) by a score of 6-4.

Trent Frederic opened the scoring for the Badgers just eight seconds into the first period, the fastest goal to start a game in program history. The freshman potted his 13th tally of the season as he crashed the net and received a feed from Matt Ustaski, who was behind the goal line. Luke Kunin also earned his 13th assist of the year on the play.

"I think the puck was coming to me and guys were making nice plays and I just happened to be there. It was a good weekend and good to get two wins," Frederic said.

Wisconsin did not lead for long, however, as Michigan tied the game just 35 seconds later on James Sanchez's fifth goal of the season. The Wolverines then took their first lead of the weekend 4:40 into the period on a goal from Cutler Martin.

Frederic denied Michigan a lead at intermission as he scored his second goal of the period, a short-handed tally after Luke Kunin blocked a shot in the defensive zone. The 19-year-old center then had an incredible effort to spring himself on a breakaway which he calmly finished with just over two minutes left in the frame.

"Little stuff like that with a blocked shot and I get the opportunity like that or the pass like last night, he's obviously great to play with," Frederic said. "The first goal, he made a nice play to just get the puck on the net and Ustaski made a nice play to me and it just happened to go in. My line, I thought it was good playing with them and it was a good weekend."

The game continued to swing both ways over the next two periods as Aidan Cavallini scored his fourth goal of the season and first at the Kohl Center just 2:01 into the second period to give the Badgers a 3-2 lead. Cameron Hughes extended his point-scoring streak to 12 games with an assist on the play.

"He's been a workhorse for us all year, his role has become more important as we've gone along," head coach Tony Granato said. "I think it's just his consistency, how he's played has put us in a position where we want him on the ice. We thought putting him in that spot tonight would be a chance to play him more."

Just under 11 minutes later, Joseph Cecconi knotted the game at 3-3 with his first goal of the season and the two teams headed into the final period tied.

About seven and a half minutes into the final stanza, Jake Linhart regained the lead for the Badgers as he crashed the net on a Ryan Wagner shot. The puck deflected off of his leg and past goaltender Zach Nagelvoort to put UW up 4-3.

UM responded right away, finding the back of the net just 51 seconds later on a goal from Adam Winborg.

The Cardinal and White finally found the eventual game-winner from Peter Tischke with under nine minutes to go in regulation. The UW defenseman deflected a Will Johnson back-handed shot under Nagelvoort's legs to give the Badgers a lead they would not surrender.

Cavallini added his second goal of the game into an empty Michigan net to ensure Wisconsin's 6-4 win.

"Yeah I think it's pretty cool," Cavallini said. "People say to play every game like your last and I think now that's actually starting to hit me hard because when you're younger you don't think about it. It's definitely pretty special but I just really care about winning and having a good finish to this year."

Goaltender Matt Jurusik finished with 34 saves on 38 shots faced on the evening.

"It was one of those games, it was weird the way the bounces were going around the net. The one that floated in, I think their guy got a piece of it, but it was a floater through," Granato said. "Jurusik was looking through traffic and it floats in. He looked square, it looked like he was confident and he made some big saves when he had to."

With the win and six conference games to go, UW can finish no lower than fourth place in the Big Ten standings. The three points also keeps the Badgers in second place and on pace with first-place Minnesota, who swept Penn State over the weekend, making the margin just three points between the two teams.

First place will be on the line for Wisconsin next weekend as it heads to Minneapolis to take on the Gophers in the second Border Battle of the season. The two teams split the first matchup in Madison earlier in the year.

"Next week will be a challenge. We had two great games against Minnesota there a few weeks back. We know the skill that they have, we know we'll have to be at our best," Granato said. "Minnesota and Wisconsin, doesn't matter what the records are, but now you see that one-two in the (Big Ten Conference) standings, it's only going to be that much more meaningful and exciting."

Friday's game will start at 7 p.m. CT and will air on Fox Sports Wisconsin Plus, BTN2Go and will be available on the radio on WIBA-AM 1310 and the Badgers Sports Network. Saturday's matchup will also begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin, BTN2Go and on the radio on WIBA-AM 1310 and the Badgers Sports Network.