(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – A late-second-period goal from No. 2 Michigan broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the difference as the No. 13/14 Wisconsin men’s hockey team fell to the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines, 3-1, on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
A sellout crowd of 15,511 fans marked the highest attendance in Kohl Center history for hockey.
Wisconsin (19-11-2, 12-10-0 Big Ten – 33 points) opened the scoring 4:33 into the first period with a power-play goal from Christian Fitzgerald, before Michigan (25-6-1, 16-5-1 Big Ten – 43 points) evened the score at one at 7:03. UM took a 2-1 lead 14:11 into the second period before scoring an empty-net tally with 13 seconds left to earn a 3-1 victory.
How it Happened
First Period
The Badgers got on the board first, 4:33 into the first period, with a power-play goal from senior forward Fitzgerald.
Michigan responded at 7:03 with a deflection goal by Kason Muscutt.
Wisconsin had two more power-play chances in the opening frame, one at 8:05 and another at 12:47, but it was unable to convert on any scoring opportunities to re-take its lead heading into the second.
Second Period
At 8:01 into the second, UW had another power-play chance, but Michigan got the kill.
The Wolverines’ Nick Moldenhauer scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with a screened point shot at 14:11.
UM had its first power play of the night at 15:23, but Wisconsin killed it off to keep it a one-goal game.
Third Period
Early in the third at 1:40, the Badgers went back on the man advantage, but did not light the lamp to tie the game.
The Wolverines had their final power-play chance at 5:31, but Wisconsin got the kill to stay perfect on the penalty kill in the game.
UW pulled goaltender Eli Pulver with 2:36 remaining to try to even the score with an extra attacker, but it failed to find the back of the net.
With 13 seconds left, UM’s T.J. Hughes scored on the empty net to seal a 3-1 victory.
Wisconsin went 1-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 35-25 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
– Tonight’s sold-out Kohl Center crowd of 15,511 marked the highest attended hockey game in Kohl Center history and marks the 47th sellout in Kohl Center history.
– Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald extended his point streak to seven games with 15th goal of the season. He boasts four goals and five assists during the span.
– Fitzgerald scored his ninth power-play goal of the season, tied for fourth in the country.
– All seven Badger seniors were celebrated in a pre-game ceremony including Ben Dexheimer, Kyle Kukkonen, Simon Tassy, Christian Fitzgerald, Tyson Dyck, Jack Horbach and Aiden Dubinsky.
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