Wisconsin Badgers
15-6-2, 8-5-0
Penn State
17-6-0, 9-4-0
No. 5 Wisconsin falls to No 8 Penn State
January 23, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Two-goal first period not enough for Badgers
MADISON, Wis. – After scoring two power-play goals in the first period, the No. 2 Wisconsin men's hockey team was unable to continue its offensive momentum as No. 8 Penn State Nittany Lions scored seven unanswered goals to win, 7-2, on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
Gavin McKenna and Dane Dowiak each recorded three goals in the Nittany Lions' victory.
Wisconsin (15-6-2, 8-5-0 Big Ten - 22 points) opened the game with two power-play goals, one from Tyson Dyck at 11:46 and another from Oliver Tulk at 14:48, on a Penn State major penalty. The Nittany Lions (17-6-0, 9-4-0 Big Ten - 28 points) responded in the second period with two power-play goals of their own, one at 1:53 and another at 10:48 on a five-on-three advantage, before taking the lead at 12:49.
Penn State scored four more goals in the third period, starting with a tally 15 seconds into the frame and another at 8:55. PSU's Dane Dowiak tallied a short-handed goal to score for the third time at 11:15, before Gavin McKenna finished his own three-goal night at 17:13 to give Penn State the 7-2 victory.
How it Happened
First Period
The Badgers started the game with a power play – a bench minor on PSU – before the Nittany Lions took another call a minute into the game to give UW a five-on-three advantage, which no Badger scored on.
At 10:25 into the frame, Penn State was called for a major penalty, which senior forward Dyck capitalized on at 11:46.
FIRE US UP, TDIZZLE 🔥
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 24, 2026
The senior extends his point streak to five games!
🍎: Logan Hensler & Luke Osburn pic.twitter.com/7ZCE0SfO6V
With time remaining on the major, freshman forward Tulk scored a power-play goal of his own at 14:48 to make it a 2-0 game.
TULK SMASH 👊
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 24, 2026
The freshman nets his fifth goal of the year!
🍎: Christian Fitzgerald & Ben Dexheimer pic.twitter.com/oeY831Hlpm
At 16:57 into the opening frame, PSU had its first power play, but it was unable to convert on any scoring chances to get on the board and UW maintained a 2-0 lead.
Second Period
Less than two minutes into the second, at 1:38, Penn State got another power-play opportunity, which Dane Dowiak scored on to get PSU on the board.
The Nittany Lions had another power play at 9:34, before a second penalty was called on UW at 10:35 to give them a two-man advantage, which Gavin McKenna capitalized on to tie the game at two.
Just over two minutes later, Dowiak scored his second goal of the night to give PSU a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame.
Third Period
Penn State added four goals in the third period, the first 15 seconds in by Jackson Smith.
McKenna scored his second goal of the game at 8:55 before Dowiak scored shorthanded and McKenna scored again to make it 7-2.
Wisconsin went 2-for-6 on the power play and 3-for-5 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 41-34 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
-Senior forward Tyson Dyck extended his career-long scoring streak to five games.
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On the team's discipline on the ice
"We've got to look in the mirror first, own what we have or have not done, and then find a way to make a difference, more so than we have up until this point."
On the team's vulnerability mentally
"At the end of the day, as I said, I just told the guys, we're going to decide when this is going to end. The cavalry's not coming. You score a couple of power-play goals, you get the crowd into it, and we go out and do what we did. And so, as far as I'm concerned, that slate's got to be wiped clean in a hurry. Vulnerable? It's an opportunity tomorrow."
Senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer
On the team's mindset
"We know what we can do, and that comes from the 26 guys in the locker room. Everyone's got to go home tonight and take a look in the mirror and realize how good we can be. Obviously, like we've done all year, flush it, but also learn from tonight and come back tomorrow better."
Freshman goalkeeper Daniel Hauser
On bouncing back from tonight
"I think just learning from it and flushing it. As a team and as an individual, I know that I've been doing that all year, good or bad. So, I know I have to be better for the guys. Take this one, individually and as a team, learn from it and get better, and flush it and get ready for the next one."
Up Next:
The Badgers continue their series against Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 24. The game starts 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.
UW will also be celebrating 20 years of the 2006 national championship team during Saturday's game. Buy tickets here.
