MADISON – For the second time this season more than 10,000 fans filled the Kohl Center for a Wisconsin men’s hockey game.

It’s safe to assume the experience was satisfying for most of those on hand.

Paced by another strong showing by freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser and fueled by two-goal nights by junior Quinn Finley and freshman Blake Montgomery, the Badgers scored a 4-0 victory over their border rival Saturday, Nov. 1 to extend their unbeaten streak to start the season to eight games.

“I do want to give a shout out right now,” Badgers coach Mike Hastings said. “Our student section is special. They’ve been here since day one, and they keep coming.

“You know when there’s an environment like that in that building, if you can get off to a good start and score a goal, they can make a big difference, and I thought they did tonight.”

The 10,016 on hand saw a bit of history. The win Saturday coupled with UW’s victory Thursday gave the Badgers (6-0-2, 2-0) their first sweep of Minnesota in two years, but you have to go back to February 2014 to find their last sweep at home over the Gophers.

You have go back to November 2010 to find UW last shutout win over Minnesota and Nov. 1983 to find the Badgers shutout win over the Gophers at home.

And while we’re running off notables, Wisconsin is off to its best start since going 7-0 in 2000-01 and its eight-game unbeaten streak to open the year ranks as its second-longest unbeaten streak to start a season. Only the 1981-82 team’s 13-0-1 start to a campaign is longer

“Just starting on the right path feels really good,” Finley said. “Kind of what coach says, ‘Stick to our business and stick to the dailies and just keep going to the next weekend’.”

Here are three keys to the Badgers latest win.

Daniel Hauser comes through for UW early

Hauser finished with 22 saves on the way to his second shutout of the season. He was especially sharp early, turning away five shots during the first 6½ minutes.

That stretch kept UW in position to gain the early lead, which the Badgers accomplished at the 8:17 mark on a shot by Finley between the circles off a pass from sophomore Jack Phelan.

“That’s a great place for Finn to sit because when he gets in that area, he usually finds a way to get it done,” Hastings said. “That was a big start for us. I think it all begins with Daniel tonight because we bent, but we didn’t break there. It was good to get out of the first period with a lead.”

Eventually the Badgers’ defense settled in. UW allowed 22 shots and never more than eight in a period.

Quinn Finley was active, made most of his chances

Finley, an Indiana native who calls Suamico home, finished with six shots, his second-highest total of the season and third-highest single-game total of his career.

Some of that come from Finley’s ability as a playmaker, but Hastings’ also pointed to sophomore Gavin Morrissey, who fired a pass from deep in the zone, threaded through three defenders to Finley on the opposite side for the shot and a power play goal.

“He put that one on a silver platter for Finn,” Hastings said. “But I’m also going to tell you, when a puck is moving that fast and it goes from dot to dot, it’s a unique ability to be able to hammer that the way that Finn did.

“That’s him showing what some of his ability is. Those two play very well off of each other on the power play. You can see Gavin looks for him.”

Blake Montgomery continues his solid transition to college game

UW is going to need contributions from its freshmen class this season. Montgomery is one of the players who has delivered early.

The Maryland native leads all UW freshmen with four goals. His third-period goals at the 1:39 and 2:00 marks all but sealed the win.

Add the shootout goal he scored to clinch a shootout win over Minnesota State on Oct. 17 and the 6-foot-4, 182-pound forward is showing the potential for a flair for clutch play.

“If you notice, he doesn’t throw a lot of pucks around without purpose,” Hastings said. “He’s okay with the puck on his stick and his ability to find others. I know he’s scoring goals right now, but he’s the guy that can kind of play any way you want to play because he skates so well.”

(This story was updated to add new information.)