Badgers suffer 4-1 setback in East Lansing
Wisconsin unable to control Spartans’ deadly top line
EAST LANSING — The Wisconsin men’s hockey team could not contain Michigan State’s dangerous top line Friday night at Munn Arena, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Spartans.
UW (9-12-4, 5-4-4-1 B1G) freshman defenseman Ty Emberson scored the Badgers’ only goal in the loss, and freshman goaltender Daniel Lebedeff made 28 saves in the net.
The Spartans’ (10-13-4, 6-8-3-2 B1G) formidable first line, comprised of juniors Taro Hirose and Patrick Khodorenko, and sophomore Mitch Lewandowski, tallied all four of Michigan State’s goals.
Notes to Know:
- UW freshman rear guard Ty Emberson scored his third goal of the season Friday. Wisconsin’s defensive corps accounts for 33 percent of the Badgers’ total points this year.
- Freshmen have 12 of UW’s last 18 goals.
- Wisconsin was 0-for-3 on the power play in the loss. Wisconsin has not converted on the man advantage in the last four games.
Straight from the Rink
Head Coach Tony Granato
On tonight’s result:
“We didn’t play well. We just didn’t get the jump. We got eaten up by their top line. We needed to be ready to play, and we just didn’t play very well. I just think the awareness of knowing when they (their top line) were on the ice was wrong. I don’t think we tried to make plays. We complicated it against that line and we had to keep it simple. You have to advance the zone. You have to make them play some time in their own zone. You have to protect the puck. You have to play better than that against that line.”
Senior Defenseman Peter Tischke
On tonight’s result:Â
“We need to do better. We need to have more support all through the ice. We need to stay together as five. There were times when we were all on the wrong page.”
On Michigan State’s top line:
“They’re all really high-skilled players. It’s their second year together so they have a lot of chemistry. They were moving the puck really well and always knowing where each other was. I think tomorrow we have to be more aware when they’re on the ice, and make them play in the D zone a little bit more to frustrate them.”
Up Next:Â The Badgers close out their road stint Saturday against Michigan State with a 4:30 p.m. contest (CT). The game will be televised on BTN.
