Wisconsin Falls to Michigan State 4-0
November 26, 2004 | Men's Hockey
The second-ranked Wisconsin men's hockey team suffered a 4-0 loss to Michigan State in the opening game of the College Hockey Showcase Friday night at the Kohl Center in front of 11,949 spectators.
Although both teams recorded 28 shots on goal, the Badgers (9-4-0, 7-3-0 WCHA) were unable to solve Michigan State goaltender Dominic Vicari, who earned his second shutout of the season.
MSU forward Colton Fretter scored twice and added an assist to record his fifth career three-point game.
Fretter began his night 4:24 into the first period, beating Wisconsin netminder Brian Elliott (Newmarket, Ontario) after he intercepted an errant pass in the UW zone.
Michigan State (6-6-1, 3-5-0 CCHA) took control of the game in the second period, scoring twice and holding a 14-10 edge in shots. Both goals came on power plays in the first seven minutes of the second. Fretter notched his second goal of the night with a slap shot from the point at the 4:44 mark.
Michigan State extended its lead to three one minute later when Drew Miller scored from behind the goal line. Jim Slater and Tyler Howells were credited with assists on the power play goal at 6:17.
Bernd Bruckler (Graz, Austria) replaced Elliott after Miller 's goal and made 15 saves while allowing just one goal.
Slater closed out the scoring at 12:58 of the third to solidify the victory for the Spartans. Slater earned his second point of the game thanks to a cross-ice feed from A.J. Thelen to start a give-and-go breakaway leaving Bruckler defenseless against the high-rising wrist shot.
UW finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play while MSU was 2-for-5.
The 4-0 defeat snapped the Badgers' three-game winning streak and was Wisconsin's first shutout loss in 57 games since a 5-0 shutout loss to North Dakota on Mar. 8, 2003.
Second-ranked Wisconsin hosts top-ranked Michigan Saturday night at the Kohl Center. The second night of the College Hockey Showcase begins at 7:07 p.m.
