Some day, years from now, Blake Geoffrion and Craig Smith might find themselves working side-by-side for the same high-profile employer and think back to Friday night.

The two debuted as linemates for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team and made significant contributions to a 4-2 victory over Minnesota at the Kohl Center.

Geoffrion, the senior center and tri-captain, scored two goals, with Smith, the freshman right winger, assisting on both in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series opener before an announced crowd of 12,508.

Both were chosen by Nashville in the NHL Entry Draft - Geoffrion in the second round in 2006, Smith in the fourth round in 2009 - which means they could eventually collaborate at the next level.

But their focus was on the moment at hand.

UW coach Mike Eaves put Smith on that top unit in part because the 6-foot, 195-pounder from Madison has excellent size, speed and an electric shot. The Geoffrion line - which also includes senior left winger Andy Bohmbach - struck in the first minute of the game and generally played well even though it had a few shaky moments.

Smith misfired on a clean breakaway in the first period and Geoffrion missed an open net in the final minute that would have given him his first career hat trick.

Smith returned to the lineup after serving a two-game suspension for his reckless major penalty against Minnesota State-Mankato Oct. 24. He said his punishment was deserved but tough, making him appreciate the opportunity to get back into the lineup.

"It was great, obviously, coming back," Smith said, "and playing with two seniors was a lot of fun."

Geoffrion, who leads the team with five goals, said having Smith on the line changes the unit's threat level.

"He reminds me a lot of Tom Gorowsky, just a little faster," Geoffrion said of one of the top goal-scorers for the Badgers last season. "It definitely adds another element of speed to our line."

Junior defenseman Cody Goloubef and senior center and tri-captain Ben Street also scored goals for UW - both at critical junctures - while junior goaltender Brett Bennett was good when he had to be en route to 16 saves.

The Badgers (4-2-1 overall, 2-2-1 WCHA) survived on a night when they didn't have their best stuff. Mistakes and uneven play were offset by the fact that Minnesota rarely generated a sustained attack and the Badgers blocked 30 shots.

"If we're in the mid-20s, that's a high amount for us," said Eaves, noting that one of those blocked shots dented the facemask of sophomore center Derek Stepan. "In a tight game like this, you need to have that element."

Minnesota left winger Mike Hoeffel, who scored his team-best fourth goal, said the Badgers had something else, too.

"For the most part, they just played smarter with the puck," he said. "They were just making good decisions, getting it in deep into our zone and getting up on our (defensemen)."

Geoffrion scored 24 seconds into the game when, stationed just inside the top edge of the left circle, he tipped a blast by junior defenseman and tri-captain Ryan McDonagh from the near point. The puck changed directions and fooled goaltender Alex Kangas (28 saves).

The Gophers pulled even at 1:31 of the second, courtesy of a defensive breakdown that led to an odd-man rush.

Junior defenseman Brendan Smith pinched along the left boards and sophomore left winger Jordy Murray slid back to the blue line. But instead of backchecking, Murray stepped up to make a play on the puck. It triggered a 3-on-1 the other way and a goal by Hoeffel.

Goloubef got it back 43 seconds later. He picked off a zone-clearing pass by center Patrick White, walked down the slot unattended and flicked a backhander past Kangas.

"I think it was a big play and got the boys fired up," Goloubef said.

Geoffrion got his second of the night when he hummed a slapper from the left circle that beat Kangas between the pads at 10:16. The sequence was set up by a nifty pass by Craig Smith in the neutral zone, which split two defenders.

The Gophers (2-4-1, 2-4-1) cut the deficit in half when White was credited with a power-play goal at 8:47 of the third, but then Street came up big.

He drove hard to the net in transition, beat his defender down the slot and rerouted a perfect lead pass from senior right winger Michael Davies past Kangas at 18:08.

"We were on our heels there a little bit," Geoffrion said. "That was a big one for us."

Minnesota 0 1 1 - 2

Wisconsin 1 2 1 - 4

First period: W - Geoffrion 4 (McDonagh, C. Smith), :24. Penalties: Gardiner, W, 2:40; Hansen, M, 9:42; Lofquist, M, 17:08;

Second period: M - Hoeffel 4 (Schroeder, Sacchetti), 1:31. W - Goloubef 2 (Lee, Mitchell), 2:14; Geoffrion 5 (C. Smith), 10:16. Penalties: Ramage, W, 3:53; Schultz, W, 11:23.

Third period: M - White 2 (Lucia, Carman), 8:47 (pp). W - Street 2 (Davies, Murray), 18:08. Penalties: Carman, M, 3:19; McDonagh, W, 6:52.

Saves: M - Kangas 11-8-9-28; W - Bennett 6-6-4-16.

Power play: M 1-for-4; W 0-for-3. Att. - 12,508.

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