EAST LANSING – The top-ranked Michigan State hockey team returned to Munn Ice Arena after sweeping Notre Dame last weekend, looking to continue its winning ways against No. 8 Wisconsin.
But, after a disastrous second period, during which the Badgers would score four unanswered goals, the Spartans would play from behind for the first time all season. MSU put together a comeback bid in the third period, but ultimately saw its nine-game winning streak come to a halt in a 5-4 loss on Friday, Nov. 21, giving MSU its first Big Ten defeat of the season.
“Tough night, and give Wisconsin credit, the second period they took it to us, and a lot of up and down the sheet, and I don’t think that’s a recipe for success for our team,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. “When you’re a young player, you can think this is fun hockey, going ‘you get a chance, we get a chance,’ but we’re playing a really good team. They did a better job of gapping and being on top of us and kept coming at us with speed.”
MSU’s forecheck generated the first goal in the opening period, with senior forward and former Wisconsin player Charlie Stramel causing a turnover at the Badgers’ blue line. The puck was moved to freshman forward Porter Martone, who fed winger Daniel Russell in front for the senior’s second goal of the season.
Martone would score minutes later on the man advantage, receiving a pass from sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi and burying a shot past Wisconsin goaltender Eli Pulver for a 2-0 MSU lead after one period.
Wisconsin got on the board just over a minute into the second period when Christian Fitzgerald buried his ninth goal of the season just five seconds into a power play opportunity. The Badgers would add three more even-strength goals in the middle frame to take a 4-2 lead into the second intermission.
“It’s not good enough, it wasn’t detailed, and it’s not what we practice,” MSU defenseman Matt Basgall said. “We had guys skating by us, not bumping them or getting into them. Those chances weren’t 2-on-1s from the start, and they went through us like a hot knife through butter. It’s not up to our standard.”
Midway through the third period, MSU freshman forward Ryker Lee delivered a pass toward the net that took a deflection and found the back of the net to cut the MSU deficit to just one. However, the Badgers would regain a two-goal advantage just 16 seconds later after forward Ryan Botterill deposited home a rebound chance on MSU goaltender Trey Augustine.
Martone would score his second goal of the game just 34 seconds later when Russell found him from behind the net, streaking through the slot.
MSU would ultimately pull Augustine for an extra attacker, but couldn’t find the equalizing goal.
Augustine finished with 29 saves for the Spartans, while Pulver stopped 35 Spartan shots in his first start of the season.
What’s next
MSU will face off with the Badgers again on Nov. 22, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
