MADISON – What started as a glorious evening for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team ended up a nightmare.
The fifth-ranked Badgers dropped a 7-2 decision to No. 8 Penn State on Jan. 23 at the Kohl Center. The game marked Wisconsin’s third straight loss, all of which have come at home.
The loss dropped Wisconsin (15-6-2, 22 points), six points behind third-place Penn State (17-6, 28 points) in the Big Ten. The Badgers trail first place and idle Michigan by nine points.
The setback came despite a strong start for Wisconsin that included a 18-6 advantage in shots on goal after the first period and a 2-0 advantage on the scoreboard. The Badgers got both scores during a 5-minute major penalty on Shea Van Olm for hitting from behind.
It didn’t take long for Wisconsin to make Penn State play. Fifteen seconds into the penalty Tyson Dyck scored from the left circle off passes from Logan Hensler and Luke Osburn.
Two minutes later, at the 14:48 mark of the period, freshman Oliver Tulk found the back of the net to double the Badgers’ advantage.
Penn State’s Dan Dowiak scored on a power play for the Nittany Lions’ first goal at the 1:53 mark of the second period, but the game really turned during the final half of that period. Penn State’s puck control improved and Wisconsin’s shot opportunities dried up.
Meanwhile, Gavin Mckenna (at the 10:48 mark) and Dowiak (12:49) finished the scoring opportunities that put Penn State ahead for good.
Jackson Smith added to the lead for Penn State 15 seconds into the final period and the night unraveled into the Badgers’ most lopsided loss of the season.
Check jsonline later for more on the game.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin men’s hockey can’t sustain fast start, falls to Penn State
Reporting by Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
