MADISON, Wis. -- Michigan Tech freshman Geoff Kinrade netted his first collegiate goal, but fourth-ranked Wisconsin used a three-goal first period to stage a 4-1 win over the Huskies in the opening game of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs in front of an announced crowd of 11,395 at the Kohl Center Friday night. Michael-Lee Teslak and Rob Nolan combined to stop 42 shots between the pipes for Tech.

The home team got on the scoreboard first at the 6:03 mark of the first stanza, as Robbie Earl took a pass from linemate Joe Pavelski right in front of the net and released a quick shot that squirted through the legs of Teslak.

Kinrade answered with the lone marker for the Huskies at 8:48 of the period. After receiving a pass from captain Brandon Schwartz at the left point, Kinrade faked a shot and skated the puck to the top of the point where he released a sharp wrister that beat Badger netminder Brian Elliott on the glove side. The helper was Schwartz's 16th of the year and it improved his season point total to 10-16--26.

Wisconsin built a 3-1 lead after two periods in wake of two goals in the final 10 minutes of the frame. A.J. Degenhardt notched his third tally of the year with an awkward angle goal that bounced off Teslak's shoulder into the net on the short side at 10:39.

The Huskies killed off a 5-on-3 opportunity a few minutes later, but the UW was able to score on the remaining 5-on-4 power play with a goal from Jack Skille at 16:17.

Teslak was relieved by Nolan in the first intermission after making 13 saves.

Michigan Tech was awarded a two-man advantage of its own with 10:57 left in the middle frame when Ryan MacMurchy and Pavelski were each whistled for a pair of infractions. Elliott stood tall in net for the Badgers, however, and preserved a two-goal lead for his squad.

Matthew Ford added an insurance goal for Wisconsin with less than a minute remaining in the second period.

Neither team scored in the final 20 minutes of regulation, giving the Badgers a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Nolan finished with 29 stops in 40 minutes of action, while Elliott turned aside 21 shots in earning his 21st win of the season.

MTU held the UW to a 1-for-9 clip on the power play.

Michigan Tech (7-24-6, 6-16-6 WCHA) and Wisconsin (24-9-3, 17-8-3 WCHA) play again Saturday night at the Kohl Center. Opening faceoff is slated for 8:07 p.m. EST.