Wisconsin Hockey Upsets Top Seed, One Win From Title

The Wisconsin Badgers hockey team just proved that being the underdog doesn't mean you can't dream big.

Playing in Las Vegas at the Frozen Four semifinals, the third-seeded Badgers took down the tournament's top seed, North Dakota, with a gritty 2-1 victory Thursday night. The win sends Wisconsin to the NCAA championship game on Saturday, where they'll face either Michigan or Denver for the title.

The Badgers came out firing in the first period, and it paid off in spectacular fashion. Senior Simon Tassy opened the scoring at the 12:54 mark, capitalizing on a hard-earned assist from Vasily Zelenov who beat his defender to the puck in the corner.

Just 27 seconds later, sophomore Ryan Botterill doubled the lead with his 10th goal of the season. Ben Dexheimer threaded a perfect pass through the neutral zone, and Botterill didn't waste the opportunity.

From there, Wisconsin's defense took over the game. The Badgers killed off five penalties against the nation's third-ranked scoring offense, a remarkable feat considering penalty killing hasn't been their strongest suit this season.

Freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser showed ice in his veins, turning away 21 shots from the Fighting Hawks. North Dakota didn't score until the final minute when they pulled their goalie in desperation.

The Bright Side

Wisconsin entered the tournament as the lowest-seeded team in the Frozen Four and the longest shot to win it all according to oddsmakers. But coach Mike Hastings and his squad refused to accept that narrative.

The Badgers outshot North Dakota 25-16 through two periods and won 23 of 40 faceoffs. Their hustle plays made highlight reels, including a diving effort by Oliver Tulk late in the second period that epitomized the team's determination.

Senior Tassy summed up the team's mindset perfectly after the game: "We came here to get two." Now the Badgers are one win away from hoisting a championship banner in the rafters of the Kohl Center back home in Madison.

Wisconsin's 24-12-3 season has been a journey of rebuilding and resilience, and Saturday's title game represents the culmination of that work.