(UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS) MADISON – The Wisconsin Badgers (11-7-0, 9-5-0 0-1-0 Big Ten) took down the Michigan State Spartans (6-10-2, 5-10-1 2-1-0 Big Ten), 4-1 for a series sweeping victory at LaBahn Arena on Saturday.
Both teams were scoreless in the first period, but those 20 minutes were far from uneventful. MSU seemed to come out with an edge after getting shut out while the Badgers kept pace with their energetic performance from a day prior.
The Badgers suffered a five minute penalty kill that carried on into the second period after Ryder Donovan received a major penalty and game misconduct for checking from behind, but they were able to kill it off.
At 7:05 of the second period, Linus Weissbach broke the ice to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead. Cole Caufield and Weissbach raced through the neutral zone and into a two-on-one with UW’s top two scorers. Caufield pulled up and drew the MSU defenseman, leaving Weissbach all alone to finish the centering pass.
The Spartans responded at 3:42 of the third period to tie the game up at one apiece. The Badgers held MSU scoreless for over 100 minutes of play before the goal.
Wisconsin had their turn on the five-minute power play just past the midpoint of the third period and took advantage of it.
Ty Pelton-Byce was the first to score on the power play at 12:29 of the third. Cole Caufield and Weissbach worked the puck around the zone until Pelton-Byce had a clear line of fire at the net.
Next up was Cole Caufield with another power play goal at 14:33. Weissbach and Holloway moved the puck around the perimeter before finding Cole on half wall for a one-time shot.
Cole Caufield also got an empty-net goal at 19:25 of the third, assisted by Holloway from a face-off win, to solidify the Badgers’ 4-1 victory over MSU. The marker helped Caufield to his first career four-point night.
