Spartans comeback to sweep Badgers
Caufield scores twice in Badger loss
EAST LANSING, Mich. —Â The Wisconsin men’s hockey team dropped an overtime heartbreaker to Michigan State in game two of the series, falling 5-4 at Munn Ice Arena.
Freshman Caufield put the Badgers up in the second period, scoring two goals within seven minutes of each other to give the Badgers a 3-1 advantage after two periods.
That wasn’t enough as MSU scored three times in the third period, one while short-handed, to grab a 4-3 lead.
Enter Captain Wyatt Kalynuk.
With 20 seconds remain in the game, Kalynuk buried the puck top shelf on Michigan State goalie John Lethemon. Wisconsin would go to overtime for the third time this season.
It was Michigan State’s Patrick Khodorenko’s second goal of the game that sealed it for the Spartans in overtime.
Senior goalie Jack Berry notched 39 saves on the night.
Notes to know:
- Jack Gorniak, Tarek Baker and Sean Dhooghe recorded assists on the four Badger goals.
- Cole Caufield put up 12 shots against Michigan State.
- Ty Emberson had a game high eight blocks in the loss.
Straight from the rink:
Head Coach Tony Granato:
“Good things in the game again today, but the bottom line, in important parts of games, we beat ourselves. Michigan State is a good team, they worked hard. When they needed a goal tonight, they found a way to battle through it.”
Up next:Â The Badgers will enter into their month-long, mid-season break before resuming their Big Ten schedule Jan. 10 at the Kohl Center against Ohio State. The Badgers will play an exhibition games against the U.S. Under-18 team on New Year’s Day.