[gameday game_id=2654]
JD (7:45): It’s all over. Wisconsin will play for the NCAA championship vs. either Michigan or Denver.
JD (7:40): North Dakota scores, with Spunar pulled, trail 2-1 with 52.7 seconds left. Hold on to your seats…
JD (7:34): SPUNAL PULLED. EMPTY NET FOR NORTH DAKOTA
JD (7:32): Can Wisconsin do it? Up 2-0 with 4:39 to go. Look for North Dakota to pull Spunar soon
JD (7:21): North Dakota called for a penalty — Jack Kernan for slashing. It’ll be 4-v-4 for 33 seconds.
ET (7:20): After the faceoff advantage Wisconsin had through two, North Dakota turned it completely around with a 10-1 advantage of its own in the first 8:30 of the third period. But as I’ve been told many times, it’s not just winning the draw, it’s really what you do with the puck.
CL (7:19): North Dakota is 0-4 on the power play with a total of four shots on goal with the man advantage.
JD (7:18): Another Wisconsin penalty, this time it’s Jack Horbach for boarding at 9:18. North Dakota did not, by the way, convert its last power play. They trail 2-0.
JD (7:11): Another power play for the Fighting Hawks, and another penalty on Wisconisn’s Luke Osburn (tripping) at 5:32 of the third. Might be in North Dakota’s best interest to convert this one.
JD (7:10): First media timeout of the final frame. Personal observation: Whatever restrictions were in place at the 2015 Frozen Four in Boston, where North Dakota fans wearing “Sioux” jerseys were not shown on the video board, are not in place today in Las Vegas. Lots of Sioux representation in the crowd today. North Dakota stopped using the “Sioux” logo and nickname in 2012.
ET (7:09): North Dakota’s pressure in the offensive zone limited Wisconsin’s opportunities in the first four minutes of the third. Once the Badgers cleared the zone, they needed a line change and the Fighting Hawks were able to reload.
CL (7:08): Shots so far this period are 5-1 Badgers. Not the start UND was looking for.
ET (7:01): Third period underway. Wisconsin is winning a lot of battles, but let’s not ignore the one at the dot. The Badgers are 23-17 on the faceoff after two, or 57.5 percent a bit above their season total of 53.9 percent, fifth in the country. North Dakota is underperforming its season total of 54.0 percent.
ET (6:45): Second period thoughts — North Dakota came back a bit in the second, but squandered their opportunities on the man advantage, including that 1:57 5-on-3. Wisconsin is 17-2 this season when leading after two, while North Dakota is 2-6-1 when trailing going into the third.
CL (6:44): Second period thoughts — North Dakota had some golden opportunities to get back into this game, with power plowers plays, including an almost two minute, 2-man advantage, but could muster just two total shots.
JD (6:43): Second period thoughts — Fighting Hawks definitely shook off the cobwebs that held them back in the first period and played a much more coherent second, but have nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. Still 2-0 Wisconsin. Badgers one period away from playing for a national championship.
ET (6:42): Cannot underestimate the boost to the Badgers in killing off that 1:57 of 5-on-3. Huge.
CL (6:41): Again just one shot on goal from an almost two minute, two man advantage. Could be a momentum boost for Bucky.
JD (6:39): Breakaway by North Dakota’s Ollie Josephson, but Wisconsin’s Oliver Tulk deftly pokes the puck away from behind, avoiding further contact that might have led to a penalty shot for the Fighting Hawks. Final media timeout with 39 seconds to go in the second
ET (6:36): Ben Dexheimer gave up the body to block a shot that toppled the Wisco D-man. He went to the bench under his own power, but it gave North Dakota a brief 5-on-2.
JD (6:35): Wisconsin kills the 5-on-3
JD (6:35): Everybody in the Fighting Hawks’ cheering section is standing up
JD (6:33): 5-on-3 for North Dakota for 1:57 coming up. Joe Palodichuk of Wisconsin hit for interference just three seconds into Fighting Hawks pp
JD (6:33): Tonight’s officiating crew, by the by, is from the ECAC — Cameron Lynch (referee), Jason Williams (referee), Steve Drain (linesman), and Adam Wood (Linesman)
JD (6:31): Apropos of nothing, all three penalties tonight have been holding
JD (6:29): Power play, Fighting Hawks, at the second media timeout, 13:38 into the second period. Holding on Wisconsin’s Luke Osburn.
ET (6:27): Though Wisconsin, as I write this, has a 22-8 advantage in shots on goal, attempts are 35-27 Badgers. Wisco has blocked 11 shots to NoDak’s 6. Wisconsin is hitting the target
CL (6:26): Just one (relatively weak) shot by North Dakota on their first power play of the game. Not the change in momentum they were looking for.
JD (6:25): Keaton Verhoeff of North Dakota with a hard one-timer to close the power play, but Hauser makes the block
ET (6:22): The Badgers are winning the physical battles along the boards.
JD (6:19): First TV timeout of the middle frame. Coming up next: power play for North Dakota as Wisconsin’s Ben Dexheimer sent off for holding. He lost his stick on the play.
ET (6:17): Some better chances for North Dakota so far in the second, but Hauser was up to the challenge. Wisconsin responded with a one-timer on the edge of the crease that was just high and a couple of odd-man rushes.
JD (6:16): Wisconsin takes time out at 7:41 of the second period, leading 2-0
JD (6:12): North Dakota outshooting Wisconsin 4-1 so far in the second period, just passed the 5-minute mark.
JD (6:05): Second period underway.
JD (6:02): Teams back on the ice to start the second period
JD (6:01): Scoreboard at T-Mobile Arena just updated Wisconsin’s shot total. It showed a 15-4 advantage for Wisconsin, now upgraded to 18-4.
JD (5:55): First period thoughts — Everything broke Wisconsin’s way in the first. Not only did they dominate in shots, they scored twice and drew the game’s only penalty so far. Scoring in bunches (two goals 34 seconds apart sent the regional final in Worcester to OT) has served the Badgers well this postseason.
ET (5:52): First period thoughts — For a team that has averaged allowing just 23.5 shots on goal per game, giving up 15 to Wisconsin is a horrible sign for North Dakota. Dane Jackson and his staff need to figure this out in the first intermission or this is going to be a long afternoon.
CL (5:49): First period thoughts — Wisconsin couldn’t ask for a better start, outshooting North Dakota 15-4 and off to a 2-0 lead. Hauser was great when called upon.
JD (5:46): The opening frame of the first contest has herewith elapsed. In other words, it’s Wisconsin with a 2-0 lead over North Dakota after the first period of Game 1 of the 2026 Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
CL (5:40): Spunar struggling a bit. A great shot by Tassy but savable, followed by Botterill 23 seconds later on a shot by Botterill that Spunar got a piece of but not enough.
JD (5:38): Final media timeout of the first period, Wisconsin leads 2-0 and has a 12-4 shot advantage. It will also be the first power play of the game, which goes to Wisconsin. Josephson sent off for holding at 15:27.
ET (5:36): Wisconsin has shown all through the playoffs that it can jump on momentum. Two quick goals 27 seconds apart has tilted the ice even more in the Badgers’ direction.
JD (5:35): Wisconsin goal No. 1 was scored by Simon Tassy, his 14th of the season, Vasily Zelenov with the assist. Second goal by Ryan Botterill at 13:21, Ben Dexheimer and Joe Palodichuk with the assists.
JD (5:33): And just like that, 2-zip Wisconsin
JD (5:32): And the game’s first goal goes to the Badgers. Wisconsin 1, North Dakota 0 at 12:54 of the first period
ET (5:32): It feels like Wisconsin is getting the game they want so far. The Badgers have had five grade-A chances at the net through 11 minutes and are keeping North Dakota from opening the pace up.
CHRIS LERCH (5:28): Both goalies were tested early. North Dakota’s Jan Spunar read a backdoor attempt and went post-to-post to make the save on Vasily Zelenov, while Wisconsin’s Daniel Hauser made a point-blank save on North Dakota’s Cody Croal in the early going.
JD (5:27): Second media timeout at 11:09, preceded by what might have been North Dakota’s best chance so far — a wicked wrister by Ollie Josephson, attempting to go far post on Wisconsin goalie Daniel Hauser. Hauser with the glove save.
ET (5:26): Both teams are doing a good job defensively getting sticks on pucks. That’s causing turnovers and opportunities at both ends of the ice.
JD (5:22): Six shots so far (make that seven) for Badgers. Actually eight. Can’t type fast enough, sorry. They lead the shot differential 8-2. Something’s bound to go in.
ED TREFZGER (5:20): Both goalies have had to make some big saves — Spunar on a bad line change by the Fighting Hawks giving the Badgers numbers to the net, and Hauser on a giveaway behind the net leading to a one-timer at the door step.
JD (5:15): First media timeout at 5:05 of the first — no score so far. Place is almost full except for glaring gaps in the fan sections which are obviously reserved for Michigan and Denver fans. They’re probably still outside having at the Fan Fest
JD (5:13): Great scoring chance for North Dakota about five minutes in. Loose puck in front of the net swept away by Wisconsin’s Simon Tassy
JD (5:11): Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings almost got beaned with a puck that went out of bounds. He tossed it into the crowd but not before finding someone wearing Badger gear was the recipient
JD (5:07): First whistle of the game is an icing call against Wisconsin, 1:15 in.
JD (5:06): We are underway at T-Mobile Arena.
JOHN DOYLE (4:56 p.m. EDT): Pretty cool light show taking place at T-Mobile Arena as the teams and the North Dakota skating cheerleaders take the ice.
JOHN DOYLE: Hello from the Frozen Four where Wisconsin and North Dakota are getting ready for NCAA Division I national semifinal battle. The teams are on the ice for warmups
I’m John Doyle from USCHO, along with colleagues Ed Trefzger and Chris Lerch and we’re high above rinkside at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Stay with USCHO for complete coverage all weekend long until, and after, a national champ is crowned.