Second period the difference as No. 2 Wisconsin falls to Michigan State
MADISON – Welcome to Big Ten hockey. Now buckle up.
In a game between nationally ranked top-four conference rivals, Wisconsin and Michigan State battled for more than 60 minutes and then Jan. 15 in the first game of their series at the Kohl Center.
Advertisement
After the Badgers swept the Spartans on their home ice in November, MSU came one back, scoring three straight goals in the second period and holding on for a 4-3 victory.
“I liked the way we finished, but there was a little bit in the middle of the period that bit us,” Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings said. “We played with fire a few times and it didn’t. And we pushed but not enough, and sometimes the ones that hurt the most, you learn the most.”
No. 2 Wisconsin (15-4-2, 8-3-0) and No. 4 Michigan State (16-5-0, 7-4-0) were scheduled to meet on Jan. 16 to conclude their regular season series.
Wisconsin left wing Quinn Finley slides into Michigan State goaltender Trey Augustine as he attempted to score on a breakaway during their Jan. 15 game at the Kohl Center.
The second period was costly for Wisconsin
Freshman right wing Oliver Tulk had barely evened the score for the Badgers early in the second period when Gavin O’Connell cut through the UW defense and beat goalie Daniel Hauser for the first of Michigan State’s three straight goals 3:57 into the period.
Advertisement
Daniel Russell added one off the crossbar at 12:17 and former Badger Charlie Strammel’s goal between Hauser’s legs made it a three-goal game at 16:51 before Kyle Kukkonen gave UW a huge boost at 17:59.
“Two of the goals, they weren’t alone until they were, and what I mean by that is through the neutral zone or at the blue line we’re in a good position,” Hastings said.
“But again, I’ll tell you our defensive corps has been the backbone of our team all this year, as have our goaltenders, and you have to give them credit for making a play. And then we’ll learn by not defending it like we probably could have done.”
The battle is on for the Big Ten men’s hockey title
Wisconsin entered the series leading the Big Ten standings in winning percentage, but trailing Michigan, which played two more games, by four points. The Wolverines have a Friday-Saturday series at fifth-ranked Minnesota.
Advertisement
Wisconsin and Michigan split their series in Ann Arbor in November and are scheduled to battle Feb. 21-22 at the Kohl Center.
“That’s what’s going to happen for the rest of the season in our league and when you get to the playoffs,” Hastings said.
“Small margins, whether it’s a post, a penalty, or taking advantage of an offensive or defensive play, will make the difference,” Hastings said.
Difficult evening for goalkeepers
Earlier in the week, Hauser and MSU counterpart Trey Augustine were announced as two of 29 players on the watch list for the Mike Richter NCAA Division I Goaltender of the Year Award. The list includes anyone with a goals-against average of 2.30 or less and a save percentage of .920 or greater.
Advertisement
Hauser entered the series at 2.02 and .917. He stopped 19 of 23 shots.
Augustine ranked first in the nation in save percentage (.938) and second in goals against average (1.725). He made 24 saves, including 12 in the third period, several after UW pulled Hauser in the final minutes.
Wisconsin had its chances.
Augustine stopped junior left wing Quinn Finley on a breakaway in which he got a face full of snow and skidded on skates. A three-on-two break opportunity was lost due to a deflected pass. And senior right wing Simon Tassy was called for unsportsmanlike conduct for diving when he whiffed on a shot but appeared to have a stick behind his wrists.
Advertisement
Lots of pushing and shoving, headaches and more
Both goalkeepers were crushed several times and tempers flared throughout the match with numerous scrambles in front of the net.
After the game, Michigan State center Tiernan Shoudy was escorted off the ice to a side exit, he was the focal point of a dust-up at the horn. Shoudy and Tassy had to be separated as their fights continued after they fell on the ice.
“When your potential American player and top scorer gets snatched from behind, we’re going to look out for each other,” Hastings said. “I have a problem with what happened, but I have no problem with the way Simon Tassy defended Quinn Finley all day.”
Advertisement
Shoudy was assessed two penalties after the game, five minutes for hitting from behind and a game misconduct. However, the only way sanctions will affect Shoudy is if he reaches the threshold of three fouls in a season, which results in a suspension.
This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin falls to Michigan State in Game 1 of Kohl Center hockey series.
