Wisconsin Badgers
15-5-2, 8-4-0
Michigan State
17-5-0, 8-4-0
No. 2 Wisconsin bested by No. 4/3 Michigan State
January 16, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Hensler scores UW's lone goal in defeat
MADISON, Wis. – A three-goal first 13 minutes from No. 4 Michigan State proved too much for the No. 2 Wisconsin men's hockey team in its 4-1 loss to the Spartans on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
Michigan State (17-5-0, 8-4-0 Big Ten - 24 points) got off to a quick start, tallying three goals in the first period: one even strength, another short-handed and a third on the power play. It extended its lead late in the second period to take a 4-0 advantage heading into the final frame. Wisconsin (15-5-2, 8-4-0 Big Ten - 22 points) got on the board with a tally from Logan Hensler in the final minute of the third frame to stop MSU goaltender Trey Augustine's shutout bid as UW fell, 4-1.
How it Happened
First Period
The Spartans opened the scoring, 1:17 into the game, with a goal from Shane Vansaghi.
Wisconsin got the first power play exactly eight minutes into the period, but Michigan State's Daniel Russell tallied a short-handed goal at 8:34. capitalizing on a 2-on-1 rush into the UW zone.
At 12:42, MSU scored once again when Russell notched his second of the evening, this time on the power play, to make it 3-0.
The Badgers were awarded another power play with 1:50 left in the first, but it was unable to convert on any scoring chances to get on the board.
Second Period
Wisconsin had two power plays in the opening 10 minutes of the second, but still could not find a way to break past MSU netminder Augustine.
Michigan State got its second chance on the power play, 12:13 into the second, but Wisconsin got the kill.
At 16:46, MSU added onto their total on a deflection from Anthony Romani to give the Spartans a 4-0 advantage heading into the final frame.
Third Period
The third period was quiet until 17:07, when Wisconsin earned its fifth power play of the game.
Just after the power play expired, at 19:11, sophomore defenseman Hensler got the Badgers on the board with a shot from the point for the final 4-1 score.
Henny! 🚨
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 17, 2026
Goal No. 4 on the season for No. 6 (@LoganHensler)
🍎: Tyson Dyck & Ryan Botterill pic.twitter.com/OaBqVoZCPn
Wisconsin went 0-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 31-23 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
-This marks the first time Wisconsin has been swept this season. It's also the first time it's lost back-to-back games this year
- The crowd of 12,114 marked a season high at the Kohl Center.
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On the team's performance tonight
"We poured some gas on that fire. You don't get off to a good start. Last night we saw a goal in D-zone coverage, same thing happens early tonight. Then we get an opportunity to even things up by going on the power play, and we blow a toe off there. When you're minus-two -- they get a power-play goal, a short-handed goal -- against a quality team, you're playing with fire. I thought we continued to stick with it, but at the end of the day, tonight wasn't a good night for us."
On moving forward from tonight's loss
"You don't get to draw what your path is. You'd better be willing to look in a mirror when you're good and when you're not. We've got some opportunities where we're going to need some guys to grow in a hurry. We have to manage it, but we have to get better. Tonight wasn't good enough."
Sophomore goaltender Eli Pulver
On struggles in the first period
"It's not easy when we give up a goal a minute and whatever into the first. It's a skill to respond, and some days we do and bounce back. Today, maybe it was a bit of a fight for us, and we dug ourselves a hole."
Senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer
On responding after this weekend
"We need to put it in the past, and come to work on Monday. Obviously, we need to clean some things up and just move forward, look forward."
Up Next: The Badgers wrap up their six-game homestand when Penn State comes to town on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23-24. Friday's game starts at 7 p.m. and streams on B1G+, while Saturday's game begins at 7:30 p.m. and airs on the Big Ten Network. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA as well as on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
On Saturday, UW will celebrate 20 years of the 2006 NCAA championship with members of the team in attendance. The first 800 students will receive a free '06 jersey replica t-shirt. Buy tickets here.
