The Badgers (7-0, 3-0 WCHA), who went into the game averaging 7.7 goals per game, scored four times in a five-minute span to break the game open. The victory was their fourth straight — and fifth in the past six games — over the Gophers.
Badgers forward Cassie Hall opened the scoring with 3 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the first period. The Badgers outshot the Gophers 24-11 in the first two periods.
Three minutes into the third, Finley McCarthy’s goal began the Badgers’ flurry. Less than three minutes later Casey O’Brien and Laila Edwards scored 16 seconds apart to extend the Badgers’ lead to 4-0. Maggie Scannell scored with 12:20 remaining to make it 5-0.
The Badgers outshot the Gophers (4-2-1, 0-2-1) 32-18 including 24-11 in the first two periods. In their first six games, the Gophers had outshot opponents 209-103.
The Gophers were 0-for-4 on the power play, including 0-for-3 in the third period.
Badgers goalie Ava McNaughton had 18 saves to earn her third shutout of the season.
The teams will conclude the series 3 p.m. Saturday.
