Roman Ahcan tries to get past MSU defender
Victoria Dombeck
2
Wisconsin UW 4-9-0, 2-5-0 1-0-0
3
Winner Michigan St. MSU 7-5-1, 2-3-0 0-0-0
Wisconsin UW
4-9-0, 2-5-0 1-0-0
2
Final
3
Michigan St. MSU
7-5-1, 2-3-0 0-0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
Wisconsin UW 0 1 1 2
Michigan St. MSU 1 1 1 3

Game Recap: Men's Hockey | | Clara Boudette

Come back effort falls short in 3-2 loss to MSU

Carson Bantle nets first goal as a Badger

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Despite a hard-fought comeback effort, the Badgers men's hockey team dropped the first game of their series against MSU 3-2 on Friday at Munn Ice Arena. 

Michigan State's early lead proved crucial in their victory over Wisconsin (4-9-0, 2-5-0 1-0-0 Big Ten). 

Michigan State (7-5-1, 2-3-0 0-0-0 Big Ten) took advantage of an early power-play opportunity to go up 1-0 at 3:19 into the first period. Erik Middendorf fired a shot from the slot on a play from Josh Nodler and David Gucciardi.

Jeremy Davidson struck next for the Spartans on a cross from Mitchell Lewandowski at 13:33 in the second period for a 2-0 lead.

Jack Gorniak finally broke the ice for the Badgers with 33 seconds left on the clock in the second period. Michigan State received a series of penalty calls that led to a 5-on-3 advantage for the Badgers. Just as the first penalty expired, Corson Ceulemans found Brock Caufield from the point who threaded a pass to Gorniak out in front. He found the back of the net to finish the tic-tac-toe play and put the Badgers within one goal of MSU heading into the final stretch. 



Middendorf scored his second goal of the game at 12:53 in the third period. Griffin Lougman set up Middendorf deep in the Badgers' zone to restore the Spartans' two-goal lead on a late icing waive.

Carson Bantle responded just over a minute later with his first goal as a Badger to put his squad back within one. The transfer sophomore took advantage of a fumbled puck on the Spartans' blue line and fired a rocket past goaltender Drew DeRidder.



The Badgers pulled goaltender Jared Moe in the final minutes in favor of the extra skater but were unable to score an equalizing goal, falling 3-2 to the Spartans.

Moe had 37 saves on the night and the Badgers outshot MSU 42-40.

Notes to know:
Next Up: The Badgers face MSU in the second game of their series on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT. Watch live on B1G+ and follow along on Twitter at @BadgerMHockey.
Print Friendly Version