Wisconsin men's hockey plays 'selfless,' upsets #2 Michigan
With one more regular-season home game left to play, Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey just might be turning a corner at the right time
Madison, WI — Facing a precarious-at-best position on the NCAA Tournament bubble, Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey welcomed the second-ranked team in the country to the Kohl Center on senior weekend. With one game left to play in the two-game set, UW has already made a statement with a 4-1 upset victory.
“It showed character,” Badgers forward Vasily Zelenov said of his team’s performance after falling behind 1-0 in the first period. “I mean, the whole week before the game we knew what we were up against and how to manage the skill that they have. So, we knew it pretty much throughout the year, but tonight was the time to step up and show it.”
No. 13/14 Wisconsin (19-10-2, 12-9-0 Big Ten) is stepping up at the right time. After dropping six straight games, UW has responded with a flurry of wins, emerging victorious in four of its past five contests. Friday night’s win, Wisconsin’s first over a ranked foe since before Thanksgiving, however, gives a feeling that the Badgers may truly be turning a corner.
“I thought our guys played selfless tonight,” UW head coach Mike Hastings said in a post-game press conference. “Whether it was having to kill a penalty, whether it was having to block a shot. I also thought we played connected. We were better coming out of our zone, which allowed us to transition and get into offense.”
UW’s regular-season home finale and a series finale rematch tomorrow night with the Wolverines (24-5-1, 15-5-1 Big Ten) looms large, but, if only for 12 hours, the Badgers can enjoy this one.
“When we play selfless and we play connected, we’re a better hockey team than when we’re not,” Hastings explained. “So, tonight it was good, but I know tomorrow’s gonna be a new game and a new day, but I want the guys to feel good about this tonight. Then, when they wake up in the morning, make sure we get back here and get back to business.”
Wisconsin Badgers fall behind early despite impressive defensive start
Despite the Badgers putting up a valiant defensive effort at five-on-five in the first period, it was the Wolverines who finished the opening frame with a lead. As has often been the culprit of Wisconsin’s woes this season, it was the penalty kill that put UW in the hole.
Michigan, entering the weekend with a national-best power play, one of only two units in Division I men’s college ice hockey to convert over 30% of its opportunities, came within inches of a pair of power-play goals in the opening 20 minutes. After Hastings’ challenge due to a missed offside call, officials overturned an initial goal by Wolverines captain TJ Hughes.
Michigan got on the board with its next power play chance. Wolverines leading goal-scorer, Will Horcoff, scored short side, putting the puck above and past UW goaltender Eli Pulver’s left shoulder.
The miscues on the PK dampened what was otherwise an impressive effort by Wisconsin in its own end to start the game. UW managed 13 shots on goal to Michigan’s six in the opening period, thanks largely to the Badgers blocking 12 of the Wolverines’ 21 attempts.
Badger men’s hockey puts together most-complete game against ranked opponent in months
Wisconsin avoided going to the penalty kill for the remaining 40 minutes, which proved crucial in its upset bid.
With goals by Quinn Finley, Vasily Zelenov, and Adam Pietila, Wisconsin potted three in the second period. With all eyes on Pulver, the offense in front of him delivered. Friday night’s second period was the first time UW scored three goals in a period against a ranked opponent since the netminder’s first-ever start in a Badgers uniform on November 21st at Michigan State.
Add in a late empty-net goal by Jack Horbach, and you have yourself an upset of the No. 2 team in the country.
That first-period power-play strike by Horcoff proved to be the only goal Pulver allowed all night. Despite Wisconsin missing first-round NHL Draft pick Logan Hensler (who remains sidelined due to injury) on the blue line, Hastings boasted of the effort both by his goaltender and the Badgers’ skaters, who blocked 22 shots on the night.
“We had a group that played in front of [Pulver] that was responsible as much as Eli was for the win,” Hastings explained. “That’s a team effort and they were rewarded for it.”
It was a team effort, but the night may serve as the outset of a redemption arc for Pulver. Before Hauser’s injury, Pulver had been pulled in three of his previous four starts. Going into Friday, Wisconsin was 1-3 in games where Pulver was in the net at the final buzzer.
The Vancouver native’s 22 saves were his third-most in a single outing this season. Pulver’s one goal allowed tied his season-best mark.
Despite the changed results, Pulver insists his process remained the same. And, he seems optimistic about how the Badgers may fare in the days and weeks ahead.
“I think I approach every game pretty similarly,” the sophomore said in a post-game interview. “I think we did a great job defending tonight, and the results were a product of that. So, if we keep doing that going forward, should get some more wins.”
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