(UW ATHLETICS) ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Wisconsin men’s hockey team scored twice in the third frame to overcome a two-goal deficit and force overtime before falling, 3-2, in the extra time to the No. 8 Michigan Wolverines on Saturday night at Yost Ice Arena.
Despite tonight’s loss, the Badgers take four of six conference points available on the weekend and are tied for second place in the Big Ten with 19 points in 12 games played.
After a silent first period, Michigan (11-6-1, 5-3-0 Big Ten) lit the lamp 7:34 into the second period to take a 1-0 lead. UM scored again with 27 seconds left in the frame to skate into the third period with a two-goal advantage. Wisconsin (7-10-1, 5-7-0 Big Ten) started its comeback 3:34 into the third period after Jack Horbach scored his first goal of the year to cut the Wolverine’s lead in half. Gavin Morrissey tied the game at two at 8:58 in the third period to force overtime. At 1:21 of extra time, Michigan found the back of the net during 3-on-3 play to claim a 3-2 victory and the extra conference point.
How it Happened
The first period was quiet, with neither team finding the back of the net. Both UW and UM had one power play, but no one converted on any scoring chances to light the lamp first.
Michigan got on the board first 7:34 into the second period on a shot from Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen.
The Wolverines doubled their lead with 27 seconds left in the second frame after Garrett Schifsky beat UW senior goaltender Tommy Scarfone on a breakaway.
Wisconsin had two power plays and 14 shots on goal in the second period but remained unable to find the back of the net.
Junior forward Horbach broke the seal for the Badgers 3:34 into the third frame. A UM player tried to pass to a teammate across his defensive zone, but Horbach intercepted the pass right in the slot. Horbach then dangled past a defender and to the left side of the goal before putting the puck home to tally his first goal of the season.
At 8:58 of the third frame, freshman forward Morrissey tied the game at two. From the left side of the UM net, sophomore forward Quinn Finley sent the puck to the right side boards, where graduate student defenseman Anthony Kehrer picked up. Kehrer then made a pass across the zone to Morrissey at the top of the left circle, who let a wrist shot fly to put home his fifth goal of the year.
Neither team scored in the final 11 minutes of regulation and the game skated into a five-minute sudden-death overtime period. At 1:21 of extra time, Michael Hage scored to give the Wolverines a 3-2 win and the extra conference point.
Wisconsin went 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 36-28 deficit in shots on goal.
Notes to know:
– Wisconsin has played an overtime game in each of its five Big Ten series this season. UW sits 5-7-0 in Big Ten play, but five of those losses have come in overtime with losses to Ohio State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Michigan State and now, Michigan. UW owns an overtime win over Penn State
– The Badgers have skated in eight overtime games through 18 contests so far this season, totaling the number of overtime contests in 40 games during the 2023-24 campaign
– The Badgers head into break at 7-10-1, but own a 2-5-1 record in overtime.
Up Next: The Badgers have a two-week break before playing in the 2024 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off tournament at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 28-29. Wisconsin takes on Ferris State in the semifinals on Saturday, and depending on the semifinal results, UW will play either UConn or Alaska on Sunday. Both contests start at 5 p.m.
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