Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
5-10-2, 1-3-0-0
Wisconsin
4-7-5, 1-2-1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Michigan State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Spartans Falter in Series Finale With Wisconsin
12/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING - A night after rallying for a come-from-behind win, the Michigan State hockey team (5-10-2, 1-3) dropped its second of a two-game series with Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon at Munn Ice Arena, falling to the Badgers, 3-0. The Badgers (4-7-5, 1-2-1) broke open the scoreless game with three goals in the second period and UW goaltender Matt Jurusik stopped all 28 Spartan shots, including 15 in the third period.
"I was really disappointed in our performance today," said MSU head coach Tom Anastos. "Not to take anything away from Wisconsin, because I thought they came out ready to play right at the drop of the puck."
After a first period that saw both teams trade scoring chances, Wisconsin caught a break when the puck bounced into the net off the body of Joe Cox on a centering attempt at the 4:50 mark of the second. Seamus Malone threw the puck toward the high slot from the right boards where it deflected off Cox - who was battling Grant Besse for position - and past MSU goaltender Jake Hildebrand.
Matthew Freytag pounced on a turnover in front of the Spartan net and buried the puck with a low wrist shot to make it 2-0 Badgers with 7:00 to play in the second period.
The Spartans' hole got deeper when Luke Kunin made it 3-0 with 58 seconds to play in the third.
Michigan State outshot Wisconsin 15-4 in the third period and produced its best scoring chances of the game in the final 20 minutes.
Mackenzie MacEachern's redirection off a odd-man rush sailed just over the top of the net midway through the period, while Brennan Sanford tried to backhand a rebound attempt into what initially looked to be a partially open net, but Jurusik just got his glove on the puck.
Hildebrand made 24 saves, including several on quality chances.
"I thought he played really well this weekend," said Anastos of Hildebrand. "That is a bright spot, for sure. He was tracking the puck well, made some key saves on some odd-man rushes, so I thought he did a good job."
MSU went 0-for-5 on the power play and killed the Badgers' lone power play which came in the second period.
The Spartans will play their final game before Christmas next weekend when they travel to Northeastern to take on the Huskies at 7 p.m. Saturday.
