Friday, February 20
Madison, WI
7 p.m.
Wisconsin Badgers
19-10-2, 12-9-0
4
vs
1
#2 Michigan
24-6-1, 15-5-1
1
2
3
F
Michigan
1
0
0
1
Wisconsin
0
3
1
4
Photo by: Kali Mick
Men's hockey scores B1G win over No. 2 Michigan
February 20, 2026 | Men's Hockey
In front of energized Kohl Center, Badgers earn fourth top-2 victory of the season
MADISON, Wis. – A three-goal second period powered No. 13/14 Wisconsin to a 4-1 victory over No. 2 Michigan in front of 12,633 fans on Friday at the Kohl Center.
With UW (19-10-2, 12-9-0 Big Ten – 33 points) trailing 1-0 after a late first-period, power-play goal by Michigan, Quinn Finley, Vasily Zelenov and Adam Pietila each scored at even strength in the second period to make it a 3-1 advantage. Jack Horbach sealed it with a late empty-net goal and freshman goaltender Eli Pulver finished the night with 22 stops for his third top-2 victory of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michigan (24-6-1, 15-5-1 Big Ten – 43 points) scored once at 14:11 of the first period, but a successful challenge for offsides by Wisconsin kept it a scoreless game.
The Wolverines eventually capitalized on a power play for a goal at 19:01 by Will Horcoff.
In the second, the Badgers got on the board when junior forward Finley scored on his own rebound in front to knot the game at 7:25.
Pressure by senior forward Horbach 1:36 later forced a turnover to start a play that finished with a freshman forward Zelenov tally for a 2-1 lead.
The Badgers scored again with hard work by freshmen forwards Finn Brink and Grady Deering along the back wall that ended up with a sophomore forward Pietila goal to make it 3-1 at 16:48.
Horbach clinched the win with an empty-net tally at 18:29 for his second of the season after senior forward Christian Fitzgerald blocked three shots and forced a turnover at the blue line.
Sophomore Eli Pulver was stellar in net, stopping 22 of 23 shots for the victory. All three of his victories this season have come against either the No. 1 or No. 2 teams in the nation.
UW outshot Michigan, 39-23, while going 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On why the Badgers succeeded
"It was one where our guys played selfless tonight. Whether it was having to kill a penalty or block a shot I thought we played connected. We were better coming out of the zone which allowed us to transition and get into offense and not just have to dump pucks and chase them away."
On Jack Horbach's night
"He's the epitome of what it means to be a Badger. He's a selfless guy. He's energetic and passionate about wearing the jersey and I was really happy to see him have the night that he had."
Freshman goaltender Eli Pulver On knowing he would start "I think I approach ever game pretty similarly. I think we did a great job of defending tonight and the results were a product of that, so we will keep doing that going forward and hopefully get some more wins."
Freshman forward Vasily Zelenov
On the team's hard work in the second period
"I felt the momentum shifted completely. We took control of the game. Everyone was fired up and we earned those bounces. There was no doubt before, anyway, but a shift like that in a game like this is crucial."
NOTES TO KNOW
- UW improved to 2-1 against Michigan this season, with the Wolverines ranked No. 2 in all three contests
- The Badgers now have four wins over top-2 teams with two against No. 1 Michigan State and two against No. 2 Michigan
- The Kohl Center crowd of 12,633 marked the second-highest attendance of the season and the highest Friday night crowd, including 2,169 Crease Creatures (students)
- Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald extended his point streak to six games with an assist. He boasts 3 goals and 5 assists during the span
- Freshman forward Vasily Zelenov extended his point streak to four games with his second goal in as many games. He owns 2 goals and 2 assists during his streak
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series against No. 2 Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 21. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the contest streams on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA on Saturday, as well as on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
Saturday's game is senior night. Join us as we celebrate our seven Badger hockey seniors in a pre-game ceremony. Buy tickets here.
With UW (19-10-2, 12-9-0 Big Ten – 33 points) trailing 1-0 after a late first-period, power-play goal by Michigan, Quinn Finley, Vasily Zelenov and Adam Pietila each scored at even strength in the second period to make it a 3-1 advantage. Jack Horbach sealed it with a late empty-net goal and freshman goaltender Eli Pulver finished the night with 22 stops for his third top-2 victory of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Michigan (24-6-1, 15-5-1 Big Ten – 43 points) scored once at 14:11 of the first period, but a successful challenge for offsides by Wisconsin kept it a scoreless game.
The Wolverines eventually capitalized on a power play for a goal at 19:01 by Will Horcoff.
In the second, the Badgers got on the board when junior forward Finley scored on his own rebound in front to knot the game at 7:25.
FIN-TASTIC! 🤩
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 21, 2026
Goal No. 13 for No. 19 (@QuinnFinley2) this year
🍎: Aiden Dubinsky & Grady Deering pic.twitter.com/CICxkJXRud
Pressure by senior forward Horbach 1:36 later forced a turnover to start a play that finished with a freshman forward Zelenov tally for a 2-1 lead.
VAS ATTACK 😤
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 21, 2026
The freshman nets his fourth of the year!
🍎: Ryan Botterill pic.twitter.com/DW5y11r6v3
The Badgers scored again with hard work by freshmen forwards Finn Brink and Grady Deering along the back wall that ended up with a sophomore forward Pietila goal to make it 3-1 at 16:48.
PITTER PARTYYY 🥳
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 21, 2026
Sixth goal of the year for the sophomore (@adampietila)
🍎: Grady Deering & Finn Brink pic.twitter.com/fDSGmm2h16
Horbach clinched the win with an empty-net tally at 18:29 for his second of the season after senior forward Christian Fitzgerald blocked three shots and forced a turnover at the blue line.
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED 💌
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 21, 2026
HORBACH WITH THE EMPTY-NETTER TO SECURE THE W! pic.twitter.com/STjbT27Uvi
Sophomore Eli Pulver was stellar in net, stopping 22 of 23 shots for the victory. All three of his victories this season have come against either the No. 1 or No. 2 teams in the nation.
UW outshot Michigan, 39-23, while going 0-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill.
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On why the Badgers succeeded
"It was one where our guys played selfless tonight. Whether it was having to kill a penalty or block a shot I thought we played connected. We were better coming out of the zone which allowed us to transition and get into offense and not just have to dump pucks and chase them away."
On Jack Horbach's night
"He's the epitome of what it means to be a Badger. He's a selfless guy. He's energetic and passionate about wearing the jersey and I was really happy to see him have the night that he had."
Freshman goaltender Eli Pulver On knowing he would start "I think I approach ever game pretty similarly. I think we did a great job of defending tonight and the results were a product of that, so we will keep doing that going forward and hopefully get some more wins."
Freshman forward Vasily Zelenov
On the team's hard work in the second period
"I felt the momentum shifted completely. We took control of the game. Everyone was fired up and we earned those bounces. There was no doubt before, anyway, but a shift like that in a game like this is crucial."
NOTES TO KNOW
- UW improved to 2-1 against Michigan this season, with the Wolverines ranked No. 2 in all three contests
- The Badgers now have four wins over top-2 teams with two against No. 1 Michigan State and two against No. 2 Michigan
- The Kohl Center crowd of 12,633 marked the second-highest attendance of the season and the highest Friday night crowd, including 2,169 Crease Creatures (students)
- Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald extended his point streak to six games with an assist. He boasts 3 goals and 5 assists during the span
- Freshman forward Vasily Zelenov extended his point streak to four games with his second goal in as many games. He owns 2 goals and 2 assists during his streak
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series against No. 2 Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 21. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. CT, and the contest streams on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA on Saturday, as well as on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
Saturday's game is senior night. Join us as we celebrate our seven Badger hockey seniors in a pre-game ceremony. Buy tickets here.
Team Stats
MIC
WIS
Shots
23
39
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
4
Penalty Mins
8
8
Faceoffs Won
19
34
Game Leaders
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
8
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
D
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
F
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's HockeyF
/ Men's Hockey
G
/ Men's Hockey
F
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