Badgers downed 5-3 by No. 17 Buckeyes

Saturday, January 8

Madison, WI

6 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

6-13-2, 3-8-0

#17 Ohio State

15-6-0, 7-4-0

Ohio St.

Wisconsin

Badgers downed 5-3 by No. 17 Buckeyes

January 08, 2022 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

De St. Phalle, Ceulemans extend point streaks

By: Clara Boudette

MADISON, Wis.— The Badgers men's hockey team (6-13-2, 3-7-0 1-1-0) fell 5-3 in a back-and-forth match against the No. 17 Ohio State Buckeyes (15-6-0, 7-4-0 Big Ten) on Saturday at the Kohl Center.

A four-goal second period and four lead changes were the story of the night in the Badgers' first tilt of 2022.

Carson Bantle notched the first Badgers goal of the new year at 15:04 of the first period. The play started in the Badgers' zone when Jesper Peltonen chipped the puck up to Mathieu De St. Phalle who found Bantle up the boards. He skated in the Buckeye's zone and squared up with Jakub Dobes before firing the puck over his shoulder and into the net.

📽️: Bantle walks in like he owns the place 🚨

🍎: De St. Phalle, Peltonen pic.twitter.com/B1YFzNNdCK
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 9, 2022

The Buckeyes responded with a goal two minutes into the second period from Cam Thiesing assisted by Michael Gildon and Ryan O'Connell. Thiesing led the rush and stick-handled his way into the slot where he slipped the puck past Jared Moe.

Ohio State took their first lead of the game just a few minutes later on the power play. Gustaf Westlund tipped a shot from Cole McWard in front of the net to put his squad up 2-1.

The Buckeye's lead was short-lived, when Roman Ahcan had something to say about it. The senior out of Savage, Minnesota, picked up the puck on the boards and made his way into the slot, waiting until he had an opening to fire a shot. Both Corson Ceulemans and Tarek Baker recorded assists on the play.

🚨: Roman Ahcan on the POWER-PLAY ⚡

🍎: Ceulemans, Baker pic.twitter.com/fg4az8Vy0B
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 9, 2022

Dominick Mersch gave his Badgers the lead at 17:06 in the second period when he beat Dobes five-hole. Liam Malmquist picked up the puck from Zach Urdahl on the blueline and passed across to Mersch as he made his way to the net to face Dobes one-on-one.

📽️: Mersch keeps it rollin' 🎻

🍎: Malmquist, Urdahl pic.twitter.com/JBjfKIxqZW
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 9, 2022

The Badgers headed into the third period with a 3-2 lead.

Ohio State's Grant Gabriele tied the match 3-3 at 6:52 in the third period. James Marooney started the breakout in the Buckeyes' zone and found Travis Treloar on the wing who then hit Gabriele with a pass at center ice. Gabriele took a few strides over the blue line before firing a shot low blocker side.

Georgii Merkulov put OSU up 4-3 at 14:21 in the third period assisted by Marooney and Thiesing. Marooney sent the puck down in the zone for Theiesing who found Merkulov on the point with a clear shooting lane.

Ohio State added one more to their tally with an empty net goal at 19:22 by Joe Dunlap from Kamil Sadlocha for a 5-3 victory.

Moe made 28 saves and the Badgers posted 33 shots on goal.

Notes to know:

Corson Ceulemans has eight points in his last five games
Mathieu De St. Phalle has a point in each of his last five games
Nine different Badgers tallied points in the 5-3 loss
Wisconsin practiced this week with nine players on the ice in the lead up to the game due to COVID-19 protocols.

Next Up:
The Badgers face Ohio State in a rematch on Sunday at 3 p.m CT at the Kohl Center. Watch live on Bally Sports Wisconsin and follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.

Tickets and parking from Friday's postponed game are good for Sunday's contest.