Overview
- Wisconsin, which won 2-1 on Thursday, advanced after first‑period goals 27 seconds apart from Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill set an early tone against North Dakota.
- Freshman Daniel Hauser made 21 saves and the Badgers killed all five Fighting Hawks power plays, including 1:56 of 5‑on‑3, to protect the lead at T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- North Dakota cut the deficit with an extra‑attacker goal in the final minute, but Wisconsin finished with a 37‑22 shot edge after outshooting UND 18‑4 in the opening period.
- Denver beat top‑seeded Michigan 4-3 in double overtime on Kent Anderson’s goal at 7:25 of the second OT, backed by Johnny Hicks’ 49 saves as the Pioneers weathered 52 Wolverines shots.
- The title game is Saturday at T‑Mobile Arena (5:30 p.m. ET), with Wisconsin seeking its first men’s crown since 2006 and Denver pursuing a record 11th championship and a third in five seasons.