Third period dooms Badgers in championship loss to Denver

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 11: Vasily Zelenov #94 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates his goal against the Denver Pioneers with his teammates in the first period during the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four final at the T-Mobile Arena on April 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Wisconsin Badgers were the better team all day at T-Mobile Arena, but the final tally on the scoreboard goes to the Denver Pioneers as they scored two third-period goals to win the 2026 National Championship by a score of 2-1. The Badgers had their chances.

After freshman Vasily Zelenov gave Wisconsin a first-period lead, it turned into a goaltending display, more so from Denver freshman Johnny Hicks, who made 30 saves in the game and prevented the Badgers from adding some much-needed insurance. Sophomore Gavin Morrissey had a golden opportunity on a loose puck in front of the net, but his redirection got in toward the body of Hicks for an easy save. The Badgers had a tough time turning their scoring opportunities into quality looks as the board behind the net took quite a beating from shots going wide of the cage.

One of the big keys for the Badgers was controlling rebound opportunities, and unfortunately, that came back to bite them on Denver’s first goal. Freshman Oliver Tulk turned the puck over in the defensive zone, which led to a shot from just inside the left circle. Hauser did well to stick his pad out and make the initial save, but the loose puck was put into the back of the net to tie the game at one apiece.

Denver was clearly tired from the double overtime win over Michigan on Thursday night, but the jolt of adrenaline after the game-tying goal provided a spark to the entire Pioneer bench, which immediately picked up the pace and started to outskate Wisconsin for the first time all game. That adrenaline paid dividends late in the third. A strong offensive zone shift led to a scoring opportunity where Hauser lost his stick after the puck went wide.