Wisconsin shuts down No. 1 Michigan State
Scarfone records 26-save shutout
MADISON, Wis. – Two goals from Quinn Finley and 26 saves from netminder Tommy Scarfone helped the Wisconsin men’s hockey team shut down the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans, 4-0, on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
With the win, the Badgers move into second place in the Big Ten with 14 points in nine games played.
Wisconsin (6-8-1, 4-5-0 Big Ten) got on the board 14:20 into the first period on Tyson Dyck’s second goal of the season. The game was silent from there until Quinn Finley lit the lamp on the power play 5:09 into the third period to give the Badgers a 2-0 lead. Six minutes later, at the 11:16 mark, Owen Mehlenbacher made it 3-0 on his first goal of the year. Finley scored into an empty net with 2:20 remaining to seal the 4-0 win for the Badgers. Tommy Scarfone stood tall in net all night, turning away all 26 Michigan State (11-2-0, 4-1-0 Big Ten) shots on goal to earn his first shutout as a Badger.
How it Happened
Junior forward Dyck got Wisconsin on the board first with 5:40 left in the first period. From a faceoff at the right side of the Badgers’ blue line, sophomore forward Sawyer Scholl passed to meet sophomore defenseman Zach Schulz near the left side of the zone. Schulz then made a stretch pass up the ice to Dyck, who rushed into Spartan territory and shoveled the puck past MSU goaltender Trey Augustine to make it 1-0.
The second period was quiet, with neither team finding the back of the net or having a power-play opportunity. Senior goaltender Scarfone made nine saves during the second period to keep it a 1-0 game.
Sophomore forward Finley extended Wisconsin’s lead 5:09 into the third period on the power play. Freshman forward Gavin Morrissey passed from the middle of the left circle up to graduate student forward Cody Laskosky at the left side of the net. Laskosky then passed between his legs to Finley, who quickly skated in toward the right of the goal and shot the puck home to reach double-digit tallies on the year.
Sophomore forward Mehlenbacher made it a 3-0 game, 11:16 into the third frame. Senior defenseman Daniel Laatsch took a shot from the middle of the Spartans’ zone, which was blocked by an MSU player. Graduate student forward Owen Lindmark picked up the loose puck in the middle of the right circle and passed up the ice to Mehlenbacher. The sophomore took a shot, which was saved before he cashed in on his own rebound to score his first goal of the year.
Finley scored his second goal of the evening after shooting the puck into the empty net with 2:20 left in regulation to seal a 4-0 win for the Badgers.
Wisconsin went 1-for-2 on the power play and took no penalties. Shots finished even with both teams firing 26 shots on goal.
Notes to know:
– With tonight’s win, the Badgers extend their unbeaten streak to five games (4-0-1) and snap MSU’s nine-game win streak
– Wisconsin is now 21-23-3 against No. 1-ranked teams since the USCHO.com poll began in 1997
– Quinn Finley is currently on a career-high seven-game (6g, 7a) point streak, starting on Nov. 8 vs. Minnesota. This is his second streak of at least four games this year after having points in five consecutive contests from Oct. 12-26
– Finley now has a new career-high in goals with 11, and he’s tied for first in the NCAA in goals scored
– Senior goaltender Tommy Scarfone recorded his 10th-career shutout in his 100th collegiate game
– Quinn Finley’s third-period tally was Wisconsin’s first empty-net goal of the year
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On the team’s effort tonight
“It really is some of the maturity of our group. They did a really good job at turning the page. I thought that in the second period, Michigan State made a push, and that’s when I thought Tommy [Scarfone] played well. I liked our discipline and staying out of the box. I thought that was really important in tonight’s game because of momentum swings.”
On the Badgers’ defense tonight
“We were hoping that that group was going to be a big part of us as a team, and tonight with those guys back, I thought Joe [Palodichuk] did a great job against a really good opponent in a very important game for ourselves.”
Senior goaltender Tommy Scarfone
On his shutout
“It’s a big accomplishment for me individually. But, you gotta look at the big picture, and it’s big for our team that beat the number one team in the country in our own building on Friday. Now, we’re out here looking for the sweep.”
Junior forward Tyson Dyck
On beating the No. 1 team in the country
“I think, as Tommy said, it’s big to see results, but I also think that’s a testament to the work we’ve been doing. Not just the past few weeks, but the past month. Coach told us today, ‘confidence isn’t given, it’s earned.’ Going back all the way to Penn State, those are big wins and, we’re just keeping it going against a really good hockey team over there. It’s a lot easier to buy in.”
Up Next: The Badgers continue their series against No. 1 Michigan State on Saturday, Dec. 6. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., and it airs on Big Ten Network. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA, the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
Pavelski Night: Saturday’s contest serves as Joe Pavelski Night. Join us as we recognize the recently retired 18-year NHL veteran and Wisconsin native’s outstanding hockey career. Additionally, there will be a holiday sweater-themed beanie giveaway for the first 500 students.