Another game got away from the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team in the third period.
It truthfully was the second period where Friday's 3-2 loss to No. 3 Minnesota at the Kohl Center started slipping away. But the Badgers again couldn't find a decisive goal in the final frame.
Jimmy Snuggerud tied the game in the second and put the Golden Gophers ahead with 7 minutes, 15 seconds remaining as Wisconsin saw two skids reach seven games.
The Badgers have lost seven in a row dating to last season when they've entered the third period tied. And they've scored two goals or fewer in seven straight contests, tied for the fourth-longest single-season stretch in the team's modern era.
"A good start, got in some penalty trouble," Badgers coach Mike Hastings said. "They're good enough offensively. We can't be contributing to that."
A 2-0 lead evaporated in the second period after the Badgers had a promising start. Short-handed and power-play goals got the Gophers back into the game.
Wisconsin (2-7, 1-4 Big Ten, 5 points) lost for the fourth time in five home games this season after falling only five times at the Kohl Center last season. The Badgers are 5-14-2 in their last 21 home games against Minnesota (8-1, 3-0, 9 points).
Penalties prove costly for the Badgers
Kyle Kukkonen's breakaway goal 81 seconds into the second period gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead, but they paid for penalties later in the period as the Gophers equalized.
Snuggerud made it 2-2 on Minnesota's fourth power play of the middle frame, which came after Wisconsin got an extra penalty out of a post-whistle scuffle behind its net.
The Gophers ended one of their own advantages with an Oliver Moore interference penalty but scored on a 3-on-1 rush that happened just after Gavin Morrissey stepped out of the box after his second straight penalty. Ryan Chesley hit the net for a short-handed goal after nice passing set up a clear shot.
The Badgers have scored a power-play goal in four straight games after a well-placed delivery and a quick finish in the first period. Morrissey threaded a pass through four Minnesota penalty killers to Quinn Finley, who sent a one-timer home for a 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin has scored on the power play in seven of nine games this season, and Finley has recorded three of them. The sophomore has a team-high six goals.
Injury forces a change in goal for Wisconsin
An injury to Badgers goalie Tommy Scarfone in practice this week put William Gramme in the starting position for the first time since he allowed six goals in a loss at No. 1 Denver on Oct. 26.
Scarfone was listed as day to day according to a Wisconsin spokesperson; he skated Friday morning and might not be out long, Hastings said.
Gramme, who made 28 saves, stopped Brodie Ziemer on a breakaway in the final minute of the first period and gloved down Matthew Wood's chance from the slot on a third-period rush.
"Those are the types of plays that we need from our goaltenders," Hastings said. "I thought 'Gram' gave us an opportunity to win the hockey game."
Three stars
No. 3: Nathan Airey, Minnesota. The goalie was strong after allowing two goals.
No. 2: Ryan Chesley, Minnesota. A second-period score got the Gophers started.
No. 1: Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota. His two goals changed the game for the Gophers.
A lead after the second period was close to a sure thing for the Badgers last season. Losing to Minnesota in that situation Saturday stung.
Wisconsin defenseman Ben Dexheimer (4) is trapped under Minnesota forward Beckett Hendrickson (14) as Badgers forward Christian Fitzgerald supports the play on Friday at the Kohl Center.