It definitely feels like a new era for Wisconsin Badgers hockey after witnessing the team’s first Big Ten matchup of the season. A 5-goal second period propelled the Badgers to a 7-4 win against the Michigan Wolverines.
No player was more key than Wisconsin captain Luke Kunin, who whipped the Michigan for a pair of goals and showcased why he is a top NHL talent in the process. Both of his goals happened to be sick wrist shots as well.
And the captain's goal just 1:33 after Johnson's to give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/D8ychEmpPc
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 10, 2016
Luke Kunin with a little 🔥 on the power play to make it 4-3. Assist goes to Grant Besse. pic.twitter.com/Dm785DpZHB
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 10, 2016
Kunin’s two goals weren’t enough though as it took an unexpected goal from Will Johnson, his fifth on the season, to secure the victory as the fifth goal of the night for Wisconsin.
The Badgers weren’t always in control of this game, as they started down 2-0 and looked in serious trouble thanks to a pair of power play goals from the Wolverines. But, the team settled down defensively and that translated forward.
UW netminder Jack Berry stopped 17 of just 21 shots on the night, as Wisconsin’s defense didn’t allow the Wolverines much in the way of opportunities on the night.
His counterpart, Hayden Lavigne, stopped just 21 of 27 shots on goal before being pulled during the second intermission. Wisconsin had a 41-21 advantage on shots for the night, showcasing the defense-equals-offense mentality that head coach Tony Granato wants to instill in his team.
Both of Michigan’s opening period goals came as the team was on a man advantage. Once the Badgers settled down a bit, the scoreline also settled down. Not coincidentally, Wisconsin’s turn in intensity on the defensive side of things translated to the offensive zone.
Just how good was the second period to the Badgers? Try allowing Aidan Cavalini his first career goal at the 17:13 mark of the period to put UW up 6-3. Assists came from Tim Davison (14) and the first from Jarod Zirbel on the year.
Not much changed for the Badgers early on in the third period, as they took advantage of a major penalty and hit the crossbar twice in under 90 seconds after puck drop. However, Wisconsin couldn’t find a seventh goal with nearly four minutes to go on the man-advantage.
Things got a bit too close for Granato’s liking in the final period, as Michigan netted a short-handed goal at the 7:59 mark of the period to make it just a two-goal lead for Wisconsin.
UW’s defense clamped down from there and an empty-netter at 17:46 of the final period put the game away for good.
These two Big Ten foes will collide tomorrow night with the puck drop scheduled for 6:30p.m. CT. There will be no television for the game, but you can catch it on BTN2Go and on the radio via 1301 WIBA.
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