Brock Caufield nets team-best 11th goal of the season
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men’s hockey team couldn’t slow down a powerful Penn State offense on Friday at Pegula Ice Arena.
The No. 10 Nittany Lions (20-12-1, 10-12-1 0-3-0 Big Ten) scored six-straight goals in the first two periods to overcome the Badgers, 6-1.
Danny Dzhaniyev scored just 14 seconds into the game to put the Nittany Lions up 1-0. Ture Linden fought for the puck off the face off in the Badgers’ zone and directed it to Christian Berger. He slated the puck out on the edge of the crease for Dzhaniyev, who tapped it past goaltender Jared Moe.
Penn State converted on its first power-play opportunity at 6:14 in the first period. Linden scored on a one-time drive from the top of the circle set up by Dzhaniyev and Berger.
Linden netted his second goal of the game at 16:36 on a feed from Ashton Calder and Jarod Crespo.
The Nittany Lions added another three goals to their tally in the second period
Penn State took a four goal lead three minutes into the second period after Tyler Gratton buried a pass from Kevin Wall after Crespo broke the puck out of the defensive zone.
Connor McMenamin struck next for Penn State midway through the second period. Xander Lamppa set up Gratton on the blue line who fired a shot on net for McMenamin to redirect.
Simon Mack scored on a drive with Connor MacEachern and Wall at 16:30 in the middle frame.
Graduate forward Brock Caufield found the back of the net for Wisconsin on the power play at 10:31 in the third period to break the PSU seal. Defenseman Corson Ceulemans made a play on the boards to keep the puck in the zone. Carson Bantle scooped up the puck and threaded a pass across the crease to the stick of Caufield for a backdoor goal.
Wisconsin (12-21-0, 5-18-0 0-0-0 Big Ten) held Penn State scoreless in the third period for a 6-1 final.
Notes to know:
- Brock Caufield leads the roster with 11 goals
- Mathieu De St. Phalle skated in his 100th game as a Badger
- Wisconsin racked up 24 shots on net
- Jared Moe made 43 saves in goal
Next Up:Â The Badgers face off with Penn State in their final regular season contest on Saturday, Feb. 25, at Pegula Ice Arena. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. CT on B1G+. Listen on the radio on 1310 WIBA and follow along on Twitter at @BadgerMHockey.