Wisconsin Badgers
19-11-2, 12-10-0
#2 Michigan
25-6-1, 16-5-1
No. 13/14 Wisconsin outlasted by No. 2 Michigan
February 21, 2026 | Men's Hockey
In front of a record crowd, Fitzgerald scores lone Badger goal on senior night
MADISON, Wis. – A late-second-period goal from No. 2 Michigan broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the difference as the No. 13/14 Wisconsin men's hockey team fell to the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines, 3-1, on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
A sellout crowd of 15,511 fans marked the highest attendance in Kohl Center history for hockey.
Wisconsin (19-11-2, 12-10-0 Big Ten - 33 points) opened the scoring 4:33 into the first period with a power-play goal from Christian Fitzgerald, before Michigan (25-6-1, 16-5-1 Big Ten - 43 points) evened the score at one at 7:03. UM took a 2-1 lead 14:11 into the second period before scoring an empty-net tally with 13 seconds left to earn a 3-1 victory.
How it Happened
First Period
The Badgers got on the board first, 4:33 into the first period, with a power-play goal from senior forward Fitzgerald.
FITZMAGIC SENIOR NIGHT GOAL!!! 🪄
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) February 22, 2026
Fifteenth tally of the year for the forward (@13Fitzgerald)
🍎: Simon Tassy & Gavin Morrissey pic.twitter.com/oS26nMNO6K
Michigan responded at 7:03 with a deflection goal by Kason Muscutt.
Wisconsin had two more power-play chances in the opening frame, one at 8:05 and another at 12:47, but it was unable to convert on any scoring opportunities to re-take its lead heading into the second.
Second Period
At 8:01 into the second, UW had another power-play chance, but Michigan got the kill.
The Wolverines' Nick Moldenhauer scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with a screened point shot at 14:11.
UM had its first power play of the night at 15:23, but Wisconsin killed it off to keep it a one-goal game.
Third Period
Early in the third at 1:40, the Badgers went back on the man advantage, but did not light the lamp to tie the game.
The Wolverines had their final power-play chance at 5:31, but Wisconsin got the kill to stay perfect on the penalty kill in the game.
UW pulled goaltender Eli Pulver with 2:36 remaining to try to even the score with an extra attacker, but it failed to find the back of the net.
With 13 seconds left, UM's T.J. Hughes scored on the empty net to seal a 3-1 victory.
Wisconsin went 1-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 35-25 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
- Tonight's sold-out Kohl Center crowd of 15,511 marked the highest attended hockey game in Kohl Center history and marks the 47th sellout in Kohl Center history.
- Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald extended his point streak to seven games with 15th goal of the season. He boasts four goals and five assists during the span.
- Fitzgerald scored his ninth power-play goal of the season, tied for fourth in the country.
- All seven Badger seniors were celebrated in a pre-game ceremony including Ben Dexheimer, Kyle Kukkonen, Simon Tassy, Christian Fitzgerald, Tyson Dyck, Jack Horbach and Aiden Dubinsky.
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On the fans
"I do want to make sure this gets said. The student section, the community, they came out and put 15,511 in that building, and wanting to send them home happy is disappointing from our end. But we want to say thank you for the support because, as you can see, when the Kohl Center is full, it's a very special place."
On Eli Pulver's play this weekend
"I thought Eli showed himself incredibly well. We just played the number one scoring team in the country and didn't give up a ton. I think it was a real growing week for Eli Pulver and the amount of confidence our guys have in him."
Senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer
On the record-breaking crowd
"I'm speechless, to be honest. I've said it so many times. This is the most fun place to play in the country, and it's because of all those fans that come to the games. So I just want to say thank you to all of them."
Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald
On the positives tonight
"I thought our second period was really good tonight, and I thought we controlled a lot of the play and generated a lot of opportunities."
Up Next: The Badgers have a week off before traveling to Happy Valley to face Penn State for their final regular-season series of the year on Thursday and Friday, March 5-6. Both games start at 6 p.m. CT and stream 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.
