With a 3-0 lead after two periods Friday night, the University of Wisconsin women's hockey team had good reason to feel confident a victory was at hand in the opener of a Western Collegiate Hockey Association first-round playoff series at the Kohl Center.

After all, Minnesota State-Mankato entered 0-35-1 all-time against the Badgers, 0-8 in the postseason, and this year was 0-14-0 when trailing after two periods.

Thanks to Jesse Vetter, history required no revision. With four players finding the net and Vetter posting 17 saves, No. 5 UW (25-7-3) took the opener 4-2 and can advance in the playoffs with a win today over the Mavericks (11-20-2).

The Badgers got goals from Meghan Duggan, Tia Hanson — it was her second of the season — and Hilary Knight through two periods before Jinelle Zaugg's 82nd career goal provided the capper midway through the third period.

The senior is two goals shy of Meghan Hunter's program record of 84.

The result was true to form this season. The Badgers defeated the Mavericks 4-2 and 4-2 at home Oct. 26 and 27 and 4-1 and 3-1 Jan. 4 and 5 in Mankato.

And, after Mankato scored a pair of third-period goals, Vetter — she's a junior from Cottage Grove — shut them down.