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Wisconsin Hockey: Badgers Split Important Series at Minnesota

By Tyler Hunt

Jan 24, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; The Kohl Center is the home of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. The image was taken before the game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; The Kohl Center is the home of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. The image was taken before the game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wisconsin Hockey Split at Minnesota to Keep Themselves in the Big Ten Race

Coming into the weekend the Badgers were set for a the biggest two game set in recent memory as the Wisconsin Hockey team traveled to Minnesota to take on the Golden Gophers in a huge stint in the overall Big Ten Standings. At the beginning of the weekend the Badgers trailed the Gophers by three points, meaning they had to at least win on of the two contests to keep pace with just a few weekends remaining in the next two weeks.

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Wisconsin did just that as they took the opening game, although it started bleak as goalie Jack Berry let in the first goal just 28 seconds into the game. However, the netminder would bounce back and be a stonewall for the rest of the game as the Badgers were outshot 38 to 18 but still came out as the victors as Berry stopped shot after shot, including stopping 17 shots in the finak period alone. The other bright spot of the Badgers defense was that of Peter Tischke who blocked an incredible 9 shots in the third period according to the Wisconsin State Journal.  With the defense playing some of its best hockey with Berry in net, the Badgers were able to hold the 3 goal second period the Badgers put in to pull even in the Big Ten Standings.

The two teams squared off again on Saturday night, with Matt Jrusiak in net this time but were unable to get any points in the contest. The Badgers trailed much of the game as they fell behind by two early, but eventually were able to scrap back to even until late in the third when Minnesota put in a goal with 5 minutes to go in the game which ended up being the deciding goal. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, a loss in overtime would at least gotten a point, but instead the Badgers are once again behind by three points with four games to go. While it isn’t the best result, it allows the Badgers to remain just a game behind and having a shot with time to go.

While the Badgers still sit on the outside looking in, a Big Ten Title would clinch a spot in the tournament come March. With Penn State sweeping a poor Michigan State team, they remain in the hunt with two weekends to go as the Big Ten at large team according to USHO Blog. With the Badgers traveling to Penn State this weekend, the Badgers could do themselves a big service in both March and the Big Ten by sweeping the Nittany Lions and putting themselves in the drivers seat as an at large team.