(UW ATHLETICS) COLUMBUS,OHIO – Despite holding a 1-0 lead heading into the second period, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team fell, 4-1, to the No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes on Friday night at the Schottenstein Center.
Wisconsin (11-17-3, 6-14-1 Big Ten – 24 points) opened the scoring with 2:50 left in the first period after Jack Horbach found the back of the net. Ohio State (19-8-2, 12-6-1 Big Ten – 37 points) struck twice in the second period, once 15:36 into the frame and again with 31 seconds left, to take a 2-1 lead. The Buckeyes scored again 1:40 into the third period to make it 3-1 before adding an empty netter with nine seconds remaining to earn a 4-1 victory.
How it Happened
Junior forward Horbach got the Badgers on the board first with 2:50 left in the first period. From near the right side boards in Wisconsin’s territory, junior forward Tyson Dyck passed to sophomore defenseman Zach Schulz at the top of the zone. Schulz then sent the puck to Horbach at the left side of the OSU blue line, who skated a few strides before taking a long wrist shot to put home his second goal of the year.
But the Buckeyes gained momentum and evened the game at one 15:36 into the second period on a deflection by Riley Thompson.
OSU took a 2-1 lead with 31 seconds left in the middle frame when Joe Dunlap pushed home a rebound to beat UW freshman goaltender Anton Castro during four-on-four play.
Then 1:40 into the third period, the Buckeyes made it a 3-1 game when Gunnarwolfe Fontaine found the back of the net. Wisconsin challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal stood after further review.
The Badgers pulled their goaltender near the five-minute mark to attempt to get back into the game, but with nine seconds remaining, Thompson shot the puck into the empty net to score his second goal of the night and seal a 4-1 victory for OSU.
Castro made 11 saves in his NCAA debut for the Badgers, and senior Tommy Scarfone made six saves in relief after Castro suffered an injury on Ohio State’s third goal.
Wisconsin went 0-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 39-21 advantage in shots on goal.
– Jack Horbach skated in his 100th career game to become the ninth Badger currently on the roster to skate in 100 career NCAA games
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series at Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 15. The contest begins at 7:30 p.m.
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