Wisconsin drops overtime tilt with No. 1 Michigan State
Fitzgerald, Lindmark score for the Badgers, who earn four of six points on the weekend
MADISON, Wis. – Despite holding a 2-0 lead early in the second period, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team fell, 3-2, in overtime to the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
Even with the loss, the Badgers win the weekend series against MSU, accumulating four of six possible points, and share second place in the Big Ten with 15 points in 10 games played.
Wisconsin (6-9-1, 4-6-0 Big Ten) got on the board with 3:42 left in the first period when Owen Lindmark scored on the power play. UW made it a 2-0 game, 3:16 into the second period after Christian Fitzgerald found the back of the net. Michigan State (12-2-0, 5-1-0 Big Ten) scored once at 6:57 of the second period and again 2:24 into the third period to send the game to overtime tied at two. Exactly three minutes into the extra time, the Spartans tallied the game-winning goal to claim the extra conference point.
How it Happened
Graduate student forward Lindmark opened the scoring 16:18 into the first period on the power play. Freshman defenseman Logan Hensler passed from the top center of the zone to junior forward Fitzgerald at the right faceoff dot. Fitzgerald took a shot, which MSU goaltender Trey Augustine saved before Lindmark cashed in on the rebound to put home his third goal of the season.
Fitzgerald doubled Wisconsin’s lead 3:16 into the second period. Freshman defenseman Zach Schulz passed from center ice to his right to meet junior forward Kyle Kukkonen at the MSU blue line. Kukkonen rushed into the zone before leaving it for Fitzgerald, who skated to the left side of the right faceoff circle. Fitzgerald passed up to Kukkonen near the net, who took a shot that rebounded into midair, which Fitzgerald batted into the net to pick up his second goal of the year.
Michigan State scored its first goal of the weekend after Charlie Stramel lit the lamp on the power play 6:58 into the second frame.
The Spartans tied the game 2:24 into the third period after Joey St. Larson beat UW senior goaltender Tommy Scarfone on a partial breakaway.
Neither team scored in the remaining time in regulation and the teams skating into overtime tied at two.
Three minutes into the extra time, Isaac Howard scored the game-winning goal for the Spartans to give MSU a 3-2 overtime win.
Wisconsin went 1-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-2 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 36-31 deficit in shots on goal.
Notes to know:
– Wisconsin has played an overtime game in each of its five Big Ten series this season. UW sits 4-6-0 in Big Ten play, but four of those losses have come in overtime with losses to OSU, Minnesota, Notre Dame and now, Michigan State. UW owns an overtime win over Penn State
– The Badgers have skated in seven overtime games through 16 contests so far this season. UW played eight overtime contests in 40 games during the 2023-24 campaign
– Owen Lindmark scored his first career power-play goal
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On playing an overtime game for the second-straight weekend
“You look at the last two overtimes, we had some opportunities on our stick to finish. That is what you’re left with, so that taste in your mouth is bitter. I told the guys I didn’t want them walking out of here looking at their shoes. We’re going in a better direction.”
On the team’s performance tonight
“I thought again it was a bit of a sandwich game where I thought our first period was good. I thought they pushed in the second period. After that, I thought we kind of leaked a bit. I liked what the guys did in between the periods. We came back, reset and had a better third period.”
On moving forward after the loss
“The reason why losses like that sting is because we didn’t get quite what we thought we wanted to get or maybe deserve. So you got to learn from that. This group has done a really good job at looking in the mirror whether it’s been good or bad, and I don’t believe there will be any difference with them on Monday.”
Graduate student forward Owen Lindmark
On the team’s mindset
“You want to win every game, but the one thing that’s never wavered in our locker room is our confidence. I’ve been on a lot of teams that struggle to start the year and you see them fold – that has not happened with this group. We attack every practice, every week, no matter who we’re playing. There’s something special in this locker room and I think that showed this weekend with the number one team in the country to play us. I’d take us over anybody else in the country any day.”
Junior forward Christian Fitzgerald
On getting scoring chances tonight
“I’ve been working hard at it. I feel like my chances kind of come in waves at times. Obviously, it’s nice to put some points on the board, but we’re looking for wins and that’s the bigger thing overshadowing tonight’s game.”
Up Next: The Badgers hit the road for a series at Michigan in Ann Arbor on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13-14. Friday’s game starts at 5 p.m. CT and is televised on the Big Ten Network, while Saturday’s contest begins at 6 p.m. and streams on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA, the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app
