Wisconsin exploded in the second period, producing four goals in twenty minutes, but had to add another goal late in the third to muster a tie on the road to Ferris State.
The first period did not get off to the start Wisconsin would have hoped. Freshman goalie, Matt Jurusik, who was given the start was beaten early on a wrap around goal six minutes into the first frame of play.
The Badgers were rattled but regrouped, generating multiple chances on Ferris State’s goal. They could not produce, however, and head into the second period down 1-0 on the road.
The second period would be much more successful for Wisconsin.
UW’s power play started cooking early in the second with Freshman Seamus Malone finding the back of the net for the first goal of his Badger career on the man advantage 1:53 into the second period.
Malone’s goal pulled the Badgers even with the Bulldogs but not for long.
Ferris State’s Gerald Mayhew put the Bulldogs back on top with a a power play goal of their own 5:20 into the second. Jurusik, despite the two goals remained in the net for the Badgers. He would record 27 saves on the night.
Wisconsin’s power play got its second goal of the night shortly after, tying the game back up at two goals a piece thanks to a slap shot from the point by Jake Linhart. Linhart’s second goal of the year came just 1:22 after Ferris State’s second goal. Mike Eave’s power play unit went an impressive 2 for 5 on the night.
The first lead of the night for Wisconsin came from Junior Grant Besse off an amazing individual effort.
Besse maneuvered his way past multiple Bulldog defenders, behind their net, stopped, and was able to wrap the puck around to slip it past Ferris State’s goalie, Charles Williams, to put Wisconsin up 3-2 12:39 into the second period.
Thirty seconds later, the Badgers would add another one to their tally.
On a three on two break Wisconsin passed the puck around the defense and Will Johnson slid home the Badgers fourth goal of the period.
The goal put the Badgers up 4-2 and was the Californian freshman’s first career goal. Wisconsin road that 4-2 lead into the third period.
The last time Wisconsin scored four goals in one period was March 15, 2014 at Michigan State.
Jurusik and the Badgers stumbled in the third and final period.
Once again, Ferris State scored within the first 6 minutes of the period. At 5:09 into the third the Bulldogs pulled within one with a goal from Matt Robertson. Five minutes later they tied it up at 4 goals a piece after Matt Jurusik left a juicy rebound for Tyler Andrew to clean up.
The comeback looked all but complete after Chad McDonald scored 18:07 into the final period to put Ferris State up 5-4. McDonald scored on a breakaway that Mike Eaves did not think he should have had in the first place.
The forward looked to be offsides as he entered the blue line but after the refs looked at the play, the goal stood.
With just about a minute left, the Badgers pulled Matt Jurusik for an extra attacker.
With 19.2 seconds left in the game, Tim Davidson ripped a shot from the point and it slipped past Darren Smith, who had replaced Charles Williams in net for Ferris State. Davidson’s first goal of the year brought Wisconsin back and tied the game at 5-5.
Wisconsin and Ferris State skated 5 minutes of scoreless sudden death overtime as the game ended in a 5-5 tie.
Despite blowing a two goal lead in the third, the Badgers take away a lot of positives from this game. The offense and power play proved that they can score goals and seeing the puck go in the net will boost the confidence of the Badgers moving forward.
Wisconsin finishes up the road series tomorrow night against Ferris State at 6 PM CT.
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