COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Wisconsin men's hockey team fell to No. 11 and second-seeded Ohio State in heartbreaking fashion Saturday night at Value City Arena taking an overtime loss, 2-1, to end their 2019-20 season.
With their backs against the wall, the sevent-seeded Badgers (14-20-2) needed a win coming into Saturday night to force a game three in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals and avoid elimination.
Senior goalie
Jack Berry, lined-up in goal for the Badgers, backstopped the Badgers in outstanding fashion, but it proved not enough.. The senior had 27 saves on 29 shots from Ohio State in his last game as a Badger.
After Berry held the Buckeyes scoreless through the first period, Ohio State was the first team to score in the second, taking a 1-0 lead on a Carson Meyer goal on the power play.
Dylan Holloway tied the game back up for the Badgers, also on the power play, with a shot that laced it's way through traffic to the back of the net. At 1-1 it would stay until overtime.
Late in the third period, UW frosh
Alex Turcotte had a golden chance, shooting into what looked to be an empty net, but OSU goaltender Tommy Nappier dove and blocked the puck out of the air with his stick.
Eventually it was Ohio State freshman Jaedon Leslie who put the puck in the net 1:12 into overtime to end Wisconsin's season.
Notes to know:
Straight from the rink:
Head Coach Tony Granato:
"Tonight was the response we needed to have. We came close but it just wasn't quite enough. I told them I was proud of them. Extremely proud of our seniors. Proud of all of our players and how they battled, especially the last month of the year. I think we grew as a team, but we didn't grow fast enough."
"That's the last way you want to see them score a goal because [
Jack Berry] played so well. It was tough for him after last night, when they get nine on us, for him to have to go in, but he was a pro. He was solid, very confident."
