Finishing touch: Goaltending, three-goal second help Badgers shutout Spartans

Saturday, December 12

East Lansing, Mich.

1:30 p.m. CT

Wisconsin Badgers

4-7-5, 1-2-1-0

Michigan State

5-10-2, 1-3-0-0

Team	1	2	3	F
Wisconsin	0	3	0	3
Michigan State	0	0	0	0

Photo by: Greg Anderson

Finishing touch: Goaltending, three-goal second help Badgers shutout Spartans

December 12, 2015 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Three different freshmen score, while Jurusik makes 28 saves in 3-0 win

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The Wisconsin men's hockey team has had trouble holding leads the last two weekends, but Matt Jurusik made sure that didn't happen on Saturday afternoon.

The freshman goaltender made 28 saves, including 15 in the third period, and the Badgers (4-7-5, 1-2-1-0 Big Ten) scored three different times in the second period en route to a 3-0 win over Michigan State. The victory secured a series split and the Badgers first Big Ten victory of the season.

After losing two of the last three games and giving up multiple goal leads in all three of those games, the Badgers stymied the Spartans down the stretch to pick up a very big win heading into winter break, according to head coach Mike Eaves.

"We needed that medicine tonight," Eaves said. "We've been knocking on the door and had leads and let them slide. But to get a win in this style tonight — because we got a win and we overcame the boogeyman of having a lead and not being able to hold onto it."

Jurusik wasn't needed much early, as the Wisconsin offense put the pressure on the Spartans (5-10-2, 1-3-0-0) throughout the first two periods. It took the Badgers until the second period to solve MSU senior goaltender Jake Hildebrand, but then the floodgates opened.

It was freshman Seamus Malone who started the second-period outburst for the Badgers. While falling downing at the right point, Tim Davison managed to slide the puck off to Malone along the wall. Malone tried to feed Grant Besse at the far side of the net, but the puck ricocheted off an MSU player instead and past Hildebrand, giving UW a 1-0 lead at the 4:50 mark of the second.

With seven minutes left in the second period, Matthew Freytag made it 2-0 in favor of the Badgers. While on the forecheck, Freytag picked the pocket of MSU's Zach Osburn from behind, spun around in the left circle and ripped a shot past Hildebrand.

Luke Kunin gave Wisconsin a three-goal lead when he deflected defenseman Jake Linhart's shot from the point past Hildebrand with just 58 seconds left in the second frame. The three-goal second marked the sixth time this year that UW has scored three or more goals in the middle stanza.

That was more than enough for Jurusik, who took over for the Badgers in the third period. Michigan State came out of the locker room with some energy, and outshot UW by 11 in the final 20 minutes of regulation. But Jurusik turned aside all 15 shots he faced to earn his first career shutout.

"He was good. He looked calmed," Eaves said of Jurusik's play between the pipes. "He controlled the rebounds. I particularly liked his attention to detail when he was handling the puck."

Wisconsin's penalty kill also played a large role in the victory. Michigan State had five of the six power plays in the game, but UW killed off all five of MSU's man advantages, including two in the third period to keep the momentum squarely on its side.

The UW penalty kill is perfect in its last four games.

"What I like right now is the direction that we're going," Eaves said. "I like that direction. Our young people are getting it. We just got to firm up some of our habits and we'll be fine."

The Badgers have the next two weekends off for winter break before returning to action on Jan. 1 against Trinity Western in an exhibition contest at the Kohl Center. Faceoff against the Spartans is scheduled for 2 p.m.