Badgers sweep up the Sun Devils

Sunday, January 17

Madison, WI

6:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

8-6-0, 6-4-0 0-1-0

Arizona State

5-11-2

Arizona State

Wisconsin

Photo by: Victoria Dombeck

Badgers sweep up the Sun Devils

January 17, 2021 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Wisconsin brings the heat in final matchup with ASU this season

By: Clara Boudette

MADISON, Wis. — Both Wisconsin (8-6-0, 6-4-0-0-1-0 Big Ten) and Arizona State (5-11-2 Independent) brought the heat in an intense battle Sunday at LaBahn Arena. The Badgers ultimately won the second game of the series, 5-2, with a couple of empty-net goals late in the game, sweeping the Sun Devils.

After Cameron Rowe and the Badgers kept ASU scoreless a day prior, the Sun Devils hungry for another shot at Wisconsin and came ready to play straight out of the gate.

ASU converted just after the first power play on a two-man advantage expired. James Sanchez scored at 7:57 to give Arizona State early lead.

However, that lead did not last long, as it was the Badgers' turn on the man advantage. On passes from Ty Pelton-Byce and Dylan Holloway, Linus Weissbach found the back of the net fromthe blue line at 10:12 of the first.

📽️Rolling back the tape on Weissbach's power play goal 🚨⚡ pic.twitter.com/4891b5aeAR
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 18, 2021

Cole Caufield gave the Badgers the lead with another power-play goal, his eighth of the season, just 37 seconds later at 10:49 in the first period. Weissbach quarterbacked the play and found Holloway on the point, who then set up Caufield with a pass across the slot.

🚨Number 8️⃣ for number 8️⃣‼️

Cole Caufield made it 2-1 on the power play!

🍎: Holloway, Weissbach pic.twitter.com/ofFsP7NrpL
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 18, 2021

Mike Vorlicky padded the Badgers' lead with his first goal of the season at 15:41 of the second period. Cole Caufield found Vorlicky with a pass as he rushed up the ice into the play. A crossing give-and-go with Ty Pelton-Byce finished with a Vorlicky wrist shot that put the Badgers up 3-1.

📽️: Lets look back at Vorlicky's first of the season‼️ pic.twitter.com/FcwJF5KKWo
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 18, 2021

The Sun Devils got on the board again at 7:23 of the third period, cutting the Badgers' lead in half on a delayed penalty. They pulled their goaltender with two minutes remaining in the game, allowing Jason Dhooghe to notch an insurance goal at 18:37.

Apparently, a 4-2 lead wasn't enough for Brock Caufield, who also took advantage of the empty net at 19:14 of the third, assisted by Owen Lindmark.

Although the Badgers won 5-2, the final score doesn't reflect how close the game was up until the last few minutes of play. An outstanding effort from goaltender Rowe kept the Sun Devils at bay, even with an extra skater.

Notes to know:

Weissbach recorded his fifth multi-point game of the season.
Vorlicky scored his first goal of the season.
The Badgers went 2-for-3 on the power play, ending a three-game drought and an 0-for-7 stretch.
Brock and Cole Caufield scored in the same game for the fourth time this season.

Next up:
The Badgers will travel to State College, Pennsylvania, to take on Penn State (7-7-0, 5-7-0-1-0-0 Big Ten) in a Thursday-Friday series. The Badgers swept the Nittany Lions at LaBahn Arena earlier this year. Follow along on Twitter at @BadgerMHockey.