(UW ATHLETICS) MADISON – A third-period goal from Tyson Dyck wasn’t enough to complete a comeback as the No. 2 Wisconsin men’s hockey team fell, 4-3, to the No. 4 Michigan State Spartans on Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
The Badgers fell behind 4-1 in the second period, but goals by Kyle Kukkonen late in the second period and Dyck in the first half of the third period gave UW a chance to tie. A late post by Ben Dexheimer was as close as the Badgers would get.
Michigan State (16-5-0, 7-4-0 Big Ten – 21 points) opened the scoring, 18:51 into the first period. Wisconsin (15-4-2, 8-3-0 Big Ten – 22 points) battled back in the second when an Oliver Tulk scored at 2:50, but Spartan goals at 3:57, 12:17 and 16:51 gave them a 4-1 advantage. Wisconsin kept fighting, with Kukkonen scoring 17:59 into the second and Tyson Dyck lighting the lamp, 6:39 into the third, to make it a 4-3 game.
How it Happened
First Period
The first period was quiet, with each team trading shots until Wisconsin earned the first power play of the night at 15:30. Michigan State killed off the first penalty of the night to keep it a 0-0 game until 18:51, when Ryker Lee lit the lamp for the Spartans to give them the lead heading into the second.
Second Period
Less than a minute into the second period ,at 48 seconds, MSU took a penalty.
Two seconds after the penalty expired, at 2:50, freshman forward Tulk scored to get Wisconsin on the board.
Just over a minute later, at 3:57, Gavin O’Connell restored Michigan State’s lead.
Michigan State got its first power play of the night, 8:28 into the second, but Wisconsin killed it off.
At 12:17 into the second, Daniel Russell scored to give the Spartans a two-goal advantage.
MSU got its second power play of the period at 13:35, but wasn’t able to convert on any scoring chances and it remained a 3-1 Spartan lead.
Using its offensive momentum, MSU made it a three-goal game, 16:51 into the second, with a goal from Charlie Stramel.
Wisconsin continued to battle, with senior forward Kukkonen adding a tally 17:59 into the frame to cut MSU’s lead in half heading into the third.
Third Period
To continue its comeback effort, senior forward Dyck lit the lamp, 6:39 into the third, after rushing the puck into the offensive zone.
The Spartans had a third power-play opportunity, 8:58 into the third, but Wisconsin killed it off to remain perfect on the penalty kill in the game.
UW fought hard in the final period to try and tie the game, putting up a 13-7 advantage in shots on goal in the final frame, but it wasn’t enough as it fell, 4-3.
Wisconsin went 0-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 28-23 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
-This marks Kyle Kukkonen’s first goal since Oct. 24 vs. Alaska – a 10-game drought
-Wisconsin has a 3-2-0 record when playing top-five teams this year.
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series against Michigan State on Friday, Jan. 16. The game begins at 7 p.m.
