MINNEAPOLIS — Seth Ambroz’s first-period goal from below the goal line broke a tie, and No. 1 Minnesota beat No. 12 Wisconsin 4-1 on Friday.
After years as rivals in the WCHA, the Gophers and the Badgers met for the first time as Big Ten hockey foes, and in the first game for the new league.
Ambroz banked the puck into the net off Wisconsin goaltender Landon Peterson to put the Gophers ahead 2-1 in the first period.
Ambroz added an empty-net goal for Minnesota (10-2-1, 1-0 Big Ten), which also got goals from Mike Reilly and Connor Reilly.
The Gophers outshot the Badgers 45-25.
Joseph LaBate opened the scoring for Wisconsin (4-4-1, 0-1), which got 41 saves from Peterson.
Adam Wilcox made 24 saves for Minnesota.
