MADISON, Wis. – It wasn't the same dominating offensive showcase as the night before, but the Wisconsin men's hockey team found a way to get the job done Saturday night.
 
Arizona State tied the game at one early in the second period, but the Badgers (2-3-3) had a quick response, proving the difference in a 2-1 win at the Kohl Center.
 
The hard-earned victory over the Sun Devils (3-6-0) gave the Badgers their first sweep since they took two from Penn State on March 7-8, 2014.
 
"The lesson tonight falls in the category of a young team learning how to win when things aren't going in the net," head coach Mike Eaves said.
 
Wisconsin took a 1-0 lead into the locker room after the first 20 minutes, but the Badgers couldn't pull away from the Sun Devils like they had in their 5-1 win on Friday night.
 
Arizona State struck for the equalizer on Jordan Master's second goal of the weekend 5:53 into the middle stanza. Masters got a centering feed in between the circles from Brock Krygier, and beat UW goaltender Matt Jurusik glove side to tie the score.
 
But less than a minute later, Arizona State's Sean Murphy took a penalty that sent the Badgers to the power play, which helped create the deciding goal. Although the Badgers didn't covert on the ensuing man advantage, they would find the back of the net just 11 seconds after the power play expired.
 
"It was the shift after their goal that was really important, and as a result we drew a penalty and then we ended up scoring," Eaves said. "Big, big, big push back for us, those are one of those pivotal times of the game."
 
Grant Besse cut behind the Arizona State net to the left goal line, and then fed Seamus Malone in the left circle. Malone one-timed the pass past ASU netminder Ryland Pashovitz to put the Badgers ahead for good just 3:01 after the Sun Devils had tied the game.
 
"It was a big play and I think it started with our power play though," Malone said. "We had a lot of momentum and had a lot of good chances. Luke Kunin made a good change and Besse found me in the slot. It was big because we got away from our game a little bit. Good to come back right away."
 
The Badgers carried the one-goal lead into the second intermission, which set up a tight third period. After just 10 shots total through the first 40 minutes, the Sun Devils peppered Jurusik with 16 shots in the final frame. Jurusik stopped every one of those shots to keep UW up one.
 
The biggest test in the period for Jurusik didn't end up requiring him to make a save. After Grant Besse hit the side of ASU's empty net, Masters got behind the UW defense on a breakaway with less than 15 seconds to play. But Masters pushed his shot wide of the net, and Wisconsin managed to clear the zone to escape danger in the waning seconds.
 
"It's a maturity lesson for us, and one that we haven't been in this position very much this year," Eaves said. "It's one that you have to put into your hip pocket and hopefully we have that opportunity to be in this position again and do a better job in terms of closing it out."
 
Besides scoring the eventual game-winner, Malone also helped set up the first Wisconsin goal. After Patrick Sexton's shot from the point got pushed aside by Pashovitz, Malone shoved the puck toward the goal mouth. Before Pashovitz could cover up, Jedd Soleway jammed the puck home to make it 1-0 at the 3:57 mark of the first period.
 
Wisconsin got 25 saves from Jurusik in his second straight victory.
 
The Badgers head back on the road next weekend, as they travel to Grand Fords, N.D. to take on North Dakota. Face off is scheduled for 7:30 CT on Friday night and 7 p.m. on Saturday.