Badgers Score Late To Ice Victory Over MSU

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State dropped a tough 5-2 decision at Wisconsin on Friday, allowing a pair of third-period power play goals.

MSU (11-11-1, 5-8-0 B1G) allowed a trio of first-period markers, (including one that went in off its own defenseman's skate) but came back with a goal early in the second period to pull within one. Wisconsin (7-13-3, 4-8-1 B1G) scored twice on the power play in the final 10 minutes of the third period for the final margin.

Dennis Cesana and Erik Middendorf had the Spartan goals, while Drew DeRidder kept his team in it with 34 saves after the Spartans found themselves in a 3-1 deficit in the first period.

Mathieu De St. Phalle had a pair of goals for the home team, while Jack Gorniak had two assists.

Michigan State completes its four-game season series with the Badgers on Saturday at the Kohl Center.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Drew DeRidder made 34 saves on the night
Dennis Cesana scored his sixth goal of the season in the first period.
Erik Middendorf scored his third goal in the last two games in the first minute of the second period.

NOTABLES AND STORYLINES

Erik Middendorf had his third goal in two games when he scored MSUs second marker just 39 seconds into the second period.
Jesse Tucker had assists on all three Middendorf goals over the last two games and leads MSU with 13 helpers. Jeremy Davidson also had an assist on the Midddendorf tally,
Kyle Haskins picked up his first point of the season with the primary assist on Dennis Cesana's goal midway through the first period. Mitchell Mattson also had an assist on the play.
Cole Krygier, Christian Krygier, and David Gucciardi each had three blocked shots to share the team lead. MSU had 19 blocks to Wisconsin's 21. The teams entered the weekend tied atop the B1G in blocked shots.
The Spartan penalty kill allowed more than one extra-man goal for just the third time this season and for the first time since Nov. 13 at Ferris State. MSU had surrendered just one PPG in the last 20 chances in its last five games.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: Just 3:32 into the game, a centering pass from Liam Malmquist from behind the goal line to DeRidder's left came out into the crease and deflected into the back of the net off the skate of a Spartan defenseman for an early 1-0 lead. The Spartans got the equalizer at 10:38, when Dennis Cesana took it up the right side and beat Moe over his shoulder in the top left corner for his sixth of the season. The Badgers went up 3-1 on a pair of goals 24 seconds apart – Mathieu De St Phalle went left-to-right across the top of the crease and won his battle with DeRidder at 12:23, and then Carson Ceulmans followed at 13:01 to five the Badgers a two-goal advantage.

SECOND PERIOD: The Spartans wasted little time getting back within a goal, as Jeremy Davidson fed Erik Middendorf at the hash marks just 39 seconds into the period. The Spartans still had a significant deficit in shots on net (14-6 in the frame), but kept their hosts from scoring and trailed by just one in the second intermission. The Badgers had just one power play chance int he frame, coming late in the period on a holding call against Nicolas Muller.

THIRD PERIOD: The Spartans came out with a 7-1 edge in shots on net over the first seven minutes, and earned a power play chance with just under seven minutes elapsed. MSU moved the puck – and their feet – well on the man advantage, and forced Moe to come up with three big saves in the first 90 seconds. As the penalty expired, the home team was finally able to get the puck out of their defensive zone, and Gucciardi was whistled for holding on a mini-breakaway to put Wisconsin on a power play of its own. The Badgers got the payoff at 10:26, moving the puck well at the top of the zone and Sam Stange getting it past DeRidder on a shot from the right point for a 4-2 lead. With the Spartans on the PK again in the final four minutes, Moe stoned Goodsir on a wraparound attempt at the right post, keeping the Spartans from gaining any ground. De St. Phalle's second goal with 1:32 remaining came on the power play while MSU was skating with a too many men penalty for the final margin. MSU outshot its hosts 18-9 in the period.

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Team Stats

Dennis Cesana

Erik Middendorf

Jeremy Davidson

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Jeremy Davidson

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Kyle Haskins

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Mattson

Erik Middendorf

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Jeremy Davidson

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Kyle Haskins

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Mattson

Erik Middendorf

Jesse Tucker