Buckeyes Hand Wisconsin Hockey Team first Home Loss of Season, 5-1
Table of Contents
Wisconsin men’s hockey suffered its first defeat at the Kohl Center this season, falling 5-1 to Ohio State on Friday night. Despite a third-period goal from Simon Tassy,the Badgers were unable to overcome a dominant performance from the Buckeyes,who secured their first conference win of the season.
Ohio State (5-4-0, 1-2-0 Big ten – 3 points) opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 13:33 of the first period. Wisconsin (7-2-2, 3-2-0 Big Ten – 9 points) struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities, particularly during three power-play chances in the second period, leaving the score at 1-0 heading into the final frame.
Slow Start and Buckeye Dominance
The Buckeyes extended their lead early in the third period, scoring just 3:23 into the frame. Tassy responded for the Badgers at 11:34, briefly igniting hope with his fifth goal of the season. Though, Ohio state quickly extinguished that momentum, adding three more goals – at 12:59, 13:55, and 16:33 (an empty-netter) – to seal the 5-1 victory.
Ryan Gordon opened the scoring for Ohio State with the first period power-play goal. Adam eisele added to the Buckeyes’ lead in the third,before Tassy’s lone goal for Wisconsin. Max Montes and Jake Karabela than further solidified the Ohio State advantage, with Davis Burnside completing the scoring with the empty-net goal.
Power Play Struggles Plague Badgers
Wisconsin’s inability to convert on the power play proved costly, finishing the night 0-for-5 with the man advantage. the Badgers did hold a 34-22 edge in shots on goal, but were unable to translate that volume into goals.
A member of the Wisconsin coaching staff acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “I thought our ineffectiveness on the power play hurt us. We’ve been able to utilize that prospect to draw momentum to our bench and to our game.” He also noted the team’s reaction to conceding the first goal, adding, “I didn’t like how we reacted to giving one up.”
looking Ahead and Honoring a Legend
The Badgers will look to rebound in the second game of the series against Ohio State on Saturday, November 15th, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast on 1310 WIBA, and also on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. Fans can also follow updates on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
Saturday’s game is designated as “Phil Night,” a tribute to the late Phil Dzick,a beloved figure known for leading cheers at badger hockey games since the 1980s. A ceremonial puck drop will be conducted by Dzick’s widow, Mary Lou, and numbers for his signature “1, 2, 3, We want More!” chant will be distributed throughout the Kohl Center.
Freshman goaltender Daniel hauser acknowledged his own performance, stating, “You could chalk it up to bad bounces, but at the end of the day, I know I’ve got to be better for the team. I know we can be better, I know I can be better as an individual.”
Senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer emphasized the need for improved energy, saying, “I think we just needed energy. I think that’s kind of what lacked, and our starts to the period weren’t grate. I just think we’ve got to flush it, and have a little energy tomorrow.”
Gavin Morrissey is currently riding an eight-game point streak for the Badgers.
https://twitter.com/BadgerMHockey/status/1724469999999999999
