What started off badly ended badly as Wisconsin dropped the opener to North Dakota, 5-3. Despite showing a ton of fight throughout the game the Badgers simply couldn’t find a way to solve North Dakota’s defense when it counted most, the 3rd period.
The game didn’t exactly start off the way Mike Eaves and Badger fans across the country were
expecting as UND scored just 31 seconds into the game on a goal by Michael Parks to go up 1-0. Only a few minutes later the Badgers gave North Dakota the first power play of the game and UND took full advantage of that, doubling their lead to 2-0 on a goal by star Danny Kristo.
At that point it looked like this would be a run away for UND, but credit Eaves’ bunch as they didn’t give up and just 1:41 later Wisconsin got on the scoring sheet, cutting the lead on a goal by Michael Mersch. At first it appeared the goal was Tyler Barnes’, but replay clearly showed it hitting Mersch in the arm and heading into the net. So assists went to Barnes and Zengerle on the goal.
Wisconsin would find a way to tie the game up later on in the 1st period on a power play goal of their own by freshman Keegan Meuer, evening it up at 2-2 at the 13:34 mark of the period. It was a cheap goal as Brendan Woods worked the puck from behind the UND net and Meuer slotted one home short side on a shot that should’ve been stopped easily by UND goaltender Aaron Dell. Woods and Ryan Little got assists on the goal for Wisconsin.
The period ended pretty even in just about every way. Both teams scored off of power play opportunities and the shots were just 10-9 in favor of UND.
As the 2nd period started it was key for Wisconsin to find a way to get the 3rd goal first to put UND on their heels but that was not to be. Both teams held each other pretty even through most of the 2nd period, keeping the score 2-2. However, Wisconsin had a lapse and allowed a power play when Frank Simonelli committed his 2nd penalty of the period. That lead to a goal shortly thereafter by Dillon Simpson, putting UND ahead once again, 3-2.
But just like in the 1st period the Badgers fought right back as Michael Mersch scored his 2nd goal of the night on a 4 on 4 situation just over 3 minutes later. That maked his 10 goal of the season and it appeared Wisconsin was ready to fight it out as they nearly took a lead at the very end of the period. Wisconsin and North Dakota skated to the locker rooms still tied, but this time 3-3.
For whatever reason both teams came out and played very tentative hockey with a lot of scrambles around the boards and some very muddy play in the neutral zones for nearly the entire 3rd period. Despite that UND had clearly the better of opportunities in the period, out shooting the Badgers 9-3 and Wisconsin was doing a good job of keeping those chances as easy saves for freshman goaltender Joel Rumpel. That all changed on an amazing save by Rumpel.
The shot was brilliantly saved, so much so that about 3 Badger defenders were caught looking and UND slotted a pass to little known Stephane Pattyn who was wide open in front of the net with just 1:54 left in the game. It will be a memorable goal for Pattyn as it was his 1st career goal, a game winning goal, and a goal on his 21st birthday. (I think I know someone who’s gonna have a bit of fun at the campus bars tonight, don’t you?)
Wisconsin didn’t give up and had a few chances that just couldn’t find their intended targets. UND would salt away the 5-3 win on an empty net goal that had to clear nearly the entire rink to get to the back of the Badgers net.
For the game Wisconsin was out shot 25-17. Frankly 17 shots is just unacceptable and credit goes to the great neutral zone defense of North Dakota, but there were countless passes that either just missed their targets or found their targets unable to complete the pass on the other end.
It also didn’t help the Badgers that they only went 1 of 6 on the power play while allowing UND to go 2 of 3 on their power play chances.
The loss drops Wisconsin to 4 points back of North Dakota in the WCHA standings and a win tomorrow is even more critical if the Badgers have any hope of a home playoff series at the end of the year. The puck drops from Ralph Engalsdt Arena at 7pm CT and can be found on FSN+ and Fox College Sports Central.
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