The Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey team put up a good battle but fell to 2nd-ranked North Dakota 4-3 in their home opener at the Kohl Center last night.
With three weeks of practice since their last game, the Badgers grabbed their first lead of the season with a Chase Drake (Mosinee, WI) power-play tally 3:36 into the second period.
The Badgers also got a Jedd Soleway goal and despite trailing in shots (29-17), took a 2-1 lead into the third period.
UND would score the first three goals of the third period to take a 4-2 lead. But the Badgers made it interesting as Drake scored his second goal of the game in the final minute. Wisconsin then pressured the net in the final 18.1 seconds but North Dakota held on to earn its sixth win of the season.
Joel Rumpel made 39 saves but took the loss in goal. He and the Badgers fell to 0 and 5 to start the season, their worst five game start since the 1932-33 season.
The two teams wrap up the 2-game series at the Kohl Center (7pm) tonight.