Wisconsin men’s hockey blanked by Penn State
Badgers’ 25 shots on goal not enough to crack PSU
MADISON, Wis. – A Penn State goal early in the first period proved to be the game-winner as the Wisconsin men’s hockey team fell to the Penn State Nittany Lions, 2-0, on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
Penn State (13-11-3, 4-10-3 Big Ten – 17 points) got on the board first, 3:10 into the first period. Each team had four power-play chances, including a chance for each program on a five-minute major power-play, but no one was able to light the lamp to tie the game for Wisconsin (11-15-3, 6-12-1 Big Ten – 24 points) or extend PSU’s lead. The Badgers continued to fight, pulling their goaltender for an extra attacker with two minutes left in the contest, but PSU tallied an empty-net goal to take home a 2-0 win.
How it Happened
Reese Laubach found the back of the net for the Nittany Lions, 3:10 into the opening frame.
A major penalty was called on Wisconsin 7:34 into the first period, but the Badgers killed it off to keep it a 1-0 game.
PSU was also called for a major penalty 16:00 into the first, but Wisconsin remained unable to light the lamp.
UW had three additional power-play chances throughout the game but could not convert on any scoring chances to even the score at one.
With 45 seconds remaining in the contest, Aiden Fink scored an empty-net goal to seal the 2-0 win for the Nittany Lions.
Wisconsin went 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 26-25 deficit in shots on goal.
Notes to know:
– UW’s penalty kill continues to stay hot, allowing just three power-play goals over the last 18 games (29-for-33 on the penalty kill)
– The last time Wisconsin got shut out was on Nov. 24, 2023, when Alaska Anchorage won, 1-0, at the Kohl Center
– Tonight’s loss snaps the Badgers’ seven-game win streak over Penn State, its longest since the teams first met in 2013
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On changing the lines in the third period
“I juggled the lines there in the third period hoping to get something going. In the last five periods, we scored an extra attacker goal at Minnesota for our lone goal in that time, so I tried to shuffle the deck a little bit and it didn’t work. That’s on me…We’ve got to give the people that came into the building something to get jacked up about, and we just couldn’t muster that up.”
Graduate student defenseman Anthony Kehrer
On the team’s performance tonight
“It’s not good enough. We know the level we can play at, and that just wasn’t it. We have to dig in tomorrow, have to wake up and get it done – myself included. That performance just wasn’t good enough.”
On improving the team’s offense for tomorrow
“In general, we need to filter more to the net. We have to get more shots on him, first of all, and create way more offensive zone chances and possession – just didn’t have enough of that.”
Graduate student forward Cody Laskosky
On Wisconsin’s offense tonight
“We had a couple of good looks, but I think we have to get more traffic and challenge him a little more. We need to get some more O-zone time and create chances off that instead of just the rush.”
On returning to the lineup after his injury
“The boys have been grinding for the last two weeks and I’ve just been watching, so I’ve obviously been itching to get back. I’m finally feeling better, so to get that call to start the game and to play tonight was a great experience.”
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series against Penn State on Saturday, Feb, 8. The game starts at 6 p.m. and streams on B1G+. 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.
The game is ‘Badger State of Mind’ themed. Join us in “BuckyVille” as we celebrate the best parts of summer this winter! Beachy music will be played throughout the game, and the first 500 students in attendance will receive a BuckyVille visor. Additionally, Adam Burish and Erik Johnson, winners of the 2024 Mel Ross Distinguished Service Award, will be honored with a pre-game ceremonial puck drop.