It was supposed to be the start to a new era for the Wisconsin Badgers hockey program, but everything felt eerily familiar as the Badgers continued to struggle in games played at the Resch Center in Green Bay.
A goal just 19 seconds in to the game set the tone early, as Northern Michigan spoiled Ton Granato’s debut as Badgers head coach in a 3-2 win in Green Bay.
“In my mind I pictured us getting off to a better start,” Granato said following the loss. “I think the way we’ve gone, what we’ve built on, I thought we’d be nice and confident and calm.”
Instead, nerves got the best of the Badgers and caused a defensive mistake that hung goalie Matt Jurusik out to dry.
Wisconsin couldn’t overcome the firepower of senior forwards Gerard Hanson, who had a goal and two assists, and Brock Maschmeyer (3 assists), in the loss.
It was Hanson who took advantage of that early mental mistake by UW’s defense, putting the Wildcats up 1-0 in just 19 seconds.
However, unlike last season, the Badgers were able to bounce back from the bad early play.
After Northern Michigan’s Darien Craighead was hit with a cross checking call at 3:18 of the opening period, the Badgers power play came through.
It was a major emphasis of Granato and his coaching staff this offseason, and Will Johnson heeded the preaching of his coaches equalizing at the 4:50 mark of the first period after having his initial effort saved. Assists went to Jake Linhart and Luke Kunin.
Here's another look at Will Johnson's goal to tie things up for the #Badgers at 1-1 with Northern Michigan. pic.twitter.com/6QAnm01QN8
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) October 8, 2016
Wisconsin would have plenty of chances on the power play, but the good early results couldn’t be duplicated and UW finished just 1-8 on the power play for the night.
Northern Michigan wasn’t much better overall, but duplicated the early start on the power play, only the Wildcats took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play thanks to a bad boarding penalty on junior left winger Cameron Hughes.
It was Sami Salminen putting the hosts back on top 2-1 at 10:17 of the period, with assists by both Brock Maschmeyer and Hanson (second point of the night).
Northern Michigan doubled their advantage just over four minutes later, as Troy Loggins netted his first career goal at the 6:00 mark of the second period.
The scrappy Badgers couldn’t find a way to get the puck in the back of the net to tie it up though, and controversy would ensue during the third period.
Hughes appeared to put the Badgers within a goal in the third period, but a murky replay by the same official who called for the goal took it off the board. It would’ve been a 3-2 game with plenty of time left in the contest.
Instead, the Badgers had to continue to put the pressure on Northern Michigan. The Wildcats’ goaltender Atte Tolvanen held up until Cameron Hughes slotted one to Corbin McGuire for a consolation goal with just 35 seconds remaining in the game.
While the loss wasn’t what anyone hoped for to start Granato’s tenure at Wisconsin, this is a program in a severe rebuild. Also, history tells us that losing your first game as a head coach at UW isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Some guys by the names of Bob Johnson and Mike Eaves also lost their openers, and both went on to win national titles for the Badgers.
As for Wisconsin’s performance on Friday night, Granato struggled to find ways to see how the result would’ve been any different.
Instead, he will focus on making sure the team does the little things better on Saturday and hope for a reversal of fortune at the Resch Center.
“We learn from what happened tonight and we’re better tomorrow,” Granato said of the series finale, via UWBadgers.com. “We’ve got to find the areas to improve on and look to make a few adjustments for (Saturday).”
The Badgers and Wildcats will finish off the weekend series at 7pm CT and can be heard on 1310-WIBA or watched via WCHA.tv ($).
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