It was Senior Night in Madison, Wisconsin as the Badgers said goodbye to six seniors on the team including co-captains Chase Drake and Brad Navin, assistant captain Joseph LaBate, as well as Matt Paape and goaltenders Landon Peterson and Joel Rumpel.
The Badgers looked to send off their leaders with a win against The Ohio State Buckeyes.
Unfortunately, the Badgers could not write a storybook ending for the graduating seniors losing the final regular season game to Ohio State 2-0.
Wisconsin was outshot an astounding 17-43 by the Buckeyes.
The first period both teams came out a little slow, combining for just twelve shots on goal between the two.
Both teams had one chance on the power play but could not generate good looks on net.
The result was that twenty minutes could not separate the two teams and the Badgers and Buckeyes were locked at zero goals apiece.
That changed to a beautiful goal from Ohio State’s Josh Healy.
A pass given from David Gust from his knees set up Healy’s goal. He found a charging Healy in the crease that tapped home the easy goal.
https://twitter.com/OhioState_MHKY/status/576898233231745024
The Badgers would respond nicely, getting numerous chances on Ohio State’s goalie, Christian Frey, but Frey stood tall and shut the door on many Wisconsin chances.
Wisconsin, when on the power play even had a huge scrum in front of Frey which resulted in the puck finding the back of the net. The whistle had already been blown, however so no goal was awarded.
With 4:09 left in the second period Senior Matt Paape got kicked out of the game after getting called for checking from behind.
The Badgers began the third period down a goal and down a man with fifty-one seconds remaining on the penalty kill.
The third period was more of the same for the Badgers who could only muster seventeen shots on net the entire game.
Ohio State managed to perform a little better on offense, peppering Senior Joel Rumpel with forty-two shots on net.
The senior, on Senior Night managed to save all but two, giving him forty saves in the losing effort.
Ohio State’s Matthew Weis scored the second goal with 8:44 left in the game.
Weis skated in on Rumpel from a bad angel but whipped a wrist shot on net.
The puck bounced off Rumpel and into the back of the net for the dagger.
Wisconsin could get nothing going in the offensive zone and the game ended with the Buckeyes on top 2-0.
Regardless, The Kohl Center cheered loudly as the seniors stayed on the ice for a little longer than usual, thanking the student section and taking a few photos.
The loss caps off a disappointing regular season for this group of Badgers who will enter post season play next weekend in the Big Ten Tournament.
A tournament the players are looking forward to
“Its a whole new season” said Eddie Wittchow.
“Come playoffs anything can happen” added Freshman Ryan Wagner.
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