Wisconsin Worked by Michigan in Series Opener

The Wisconsin Badgers kept it respectable, but could not handle the Michigan Wolverine’s offense, losing 4-1 Friday evening at the Kohl Center.

Things did not look good from the jump for the Badgers as the Wolverines found the back of the net less than 5 minutes into the game.

Michigan’s JT Compher sent a slap pass across ice to a streaking Tyler Motte who was all alone back door for a one time slap shot past Matt Jurusik.

Watch the goal here: snpy.tv/1R0AJ2w

Wisconsin would respond nicely to the early mistake, even netting a goal of their own, shortly after.

Ryan Wagner, showing great hustle, beat Michigan to a loose puck and threw the puck on net. The net was dislodged, as the puck trickled over the line is a flurry of players.

Originally the play was stopped and called no goal but after a lengthy review, Ryan Wagner was given the goal with Tim Davidson on the assist and the Badgers had tied it all up 1-1.

In the second period, the Wolverines grabbed the lead. It would come off the stick of Dexter Dancs who fired home a rebound past Jurusik to put Michigan up 2-1 with 11:40 left in the second period.

Although the second period wouldn’t give way to an equalizer, Wisconsin and Michigan got to know each other very well. Both teams were involved with multiple post whistle activities.

Freshman Seasmus Malone even found himself thrown to the ground and repeated getting his head slammed in the ice. No penalty was called on the play.

Wisconsin entered the third period only trailing by one goal but penalties would put Wisconsin on the defense more often than they would have liked.

Jedd Soleway was booked for slashing at 5:49 into the third and Michigan converted.

Alex Kile redirected a shot and the puck zoomed past Jurusik into the top of the net giving Michigan a commanding two-goal-lead in the third period.

The Wisconsin offense was essentially missing from action the third period. The Badgers mustered 26 shots on Michigan’s Steve Racine. Racine saved all but one. Jurusik managed 36 saves.

Kyle Connor added an empty net goal for his twenty-first goal of the year. Leading the nation in points on the season. He put the game away at 4-1.

The series finale is tomorrow night at the Kohl Center at 7 pm CT. The Badgers hope to figure out how to tighten up their defense as Michigan’s high-powered offense appears to have made the trip to Madison.