![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/QO2ATUTRLNEOHLZT3MPVRTXGKA.jpg\")
Ryan Botterill’s first-period goal helped Wisconsin stretch its lead to 2-0 over North Dakota.Ethan Miller\/Getty Images<\/p>\nBut Denver managed to stay alive, drawing even on Clarke Caswell\u2019s goal at 17:14. The freshman posted up in front of the net and re-directed Garrett Brown\u2019s cross-ice pass past Jack Ivankovic (22 saves) to send the game into overtime, setting up Anderson\u2019s heroics. <\/p>\n
It was a back and forth game, with Denver opening the scoring in the first when Kyle Chyzowski\u2019s one-timer beat Ivankovic five-hole at 9:29. Chyzowski helped set it up when he blocked a pass to force a turnover, trickling over to Kieran Cebrian, who sent it to Brendan McMorrow in the post, who then kicked it back out to Chyzowski for the score. <\/p>\n
Michigan got the equalizer from its fourth line when senior Josh Eernisse scored off a face off, whistling one past Hicks top shelf at 16:18. The Wolverines would take the lead 59 seconds later when T. J. Hughes buried his 22nd of the season, fielding a rebound of Adam Valentini\u2019s shot that bounced off the boards and back in front of the net, to beat Hicks at 17:17.<\/p>\n
The Wolverines would carry the 2-1 lead into the second, but the Pioneers pulled even on Cale Ashcroft\u2019s shot from the point 2:30 in, the puck finding the back of the net with Caswell screening Ivankovic.<\/p>\n
In the first semifinal, Wisconsin scored a pair of goals 27 seconds apart in the first period, and goalie Daniel Hauser (21 saves) made sure that was enough as the Badgers withstood a furious rally from North Dakota to take the 2-1 win.<\/p>\n
The Badgers will be seeking their first championship since 2006, when they defeated Boston College, 2-1. It\u2019s their first time in the title game since a 5-0 loss to BC in 2010.<\/p>\n
Wisconsin grabbed the lead on Simon Tassy\u2019s snipe that beat goalie Jan Spunar (35 saves) glove side at 12:54. Vasily Zelenov set up the score, forcing the turnover on the forecheck and delivering the puck to Tassy for the quick strike. It was the first goal allowed by Spunar in the tournament after the freshman posted consecutive shutouts in wins over Merrimack and Quinnipiac in the Sioux Falls Regional.<\/p>\n
Wisconsin doubled the lead when Ben Dexheimer\u2018s pass up the middle caught Ryan Botterill in stride at the blue line. The sophomore was able to get behind the North Dakota defense and send a shot on net that Spunar got a piece of, but the puck leaked through for the 2-0 advantage.<\/p>\n
Ryan Botterill’s first-period goal helped Wisconsin stretch its lead to 2-0 over North Dakota.Ethan Miller\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cBotts made an unbelievable play streaking through the middle,\u201d said Dexheimer. \u201cI kind of waited my forechecker out, zipped it through the middle.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting that second one was a big confidence boost. We just kind of focus on next-shift mentality. That\u2019s what we did. We flushed the first goal and went back to work.\u201d <\/p>\n
Bruins prospect Will Zellers was buzzing in the second period for North Dakota, getting a shot on net in the opening minute that Hauser stopped. Zellers created another nice opportunity a few minutes later, sending a cross-ice pass toward teammate Ellis Rickwood in front of the Wisconsin net, but the puck bounced over Rickwood\u2019s stick and into the corner.<\/p>\n
North Dakota looked to have a prime opportunity when Wisconsin was whistled for a pair of penalties three seconds apart later in the period, putting the Fighting Hawks on a five on three advantage for 1:57. Things got worse for Wisconsin. With defensemen Luke Osburn and Joe Palodichuk already in the box, Dexheimer went down after taking a shot to the leg and hobbled off the ice.<\/p>\n
But the Badgers managed to keep North Dakota off the board despite being down three of their top four blue liners, with center Gavin Morrissey staying on the ice for the entire stretch Wisconsin was down two skaters.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe bent but we didn\u2019t break,\u201d said Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings. \u201cThey flipped the game on us in the second period. . . . Sometimes we make things a little more difficult than they need to be, but when you play a team the quality of the University of North Dakota, they\u2019re going to stress you out a little bit.\u201d <\/p>\n
Dexheimer was able to return to action to close out the period, and the Badgers held the two-goal lead heading into the third.<\/p>\n
The Fighting Hawks finally broke through in the closing minute when, with Spunar pulled for the extra skater, Rickwood was able to get one past Hauser with 52.7 seconds remaining. But North Dakota was unable to come up with the equalizer as Wisconsin held on to advance to the title game for the ninth time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just hard in these games to go down that early,\u201d said Rickwood. \u201cI thought we kind of fought back. It was just a little too late.\u201d <\/p>\n
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney<\/a>.<\/p>\n