How do you top a 5-1 win in the program’s return from winter break? If you’re the Wisconsin Badgers the answer is to bring back your starting netminder and your gold medal-winning captain and do the exact same thing the next night.<\/p>\n
After missing nearly eight games, Matt Jurusik returned between the pipes and handled his business. He saved 23 of 24 shots on the night and looked more and more sharp as the game went on.<\/p>\n
But, no return was more anticipate than captain Luke Kunin back in the red sweater of Wisconsin. He returned to the ice on Saturday night after getting last night off to rest following a less than 24-hour return from the World Junior championships.<\/p>\n
Kunin’s first night back didn’t disappoint, as the star forward just picked up right where he left off and put in two of Wisconsin’s five goals in a 5-1 victory for the sweep of the Michigan State Spartans.<\/p>\n
The win gave the Badgers their first weekend sweep of the same opponent all season. Most importantly, however, the victory put UW up on top of the Big Ten conference standings alongside both Minnesota and Penn State at 3-1 in league play.<\/p>\n
Wisconsin’s aggressive approach was led by Kunin off the opening face-off and it paid quick dividends.<\/p>\n
UW lit the lamp just 33 seconds in to the game thanks to Seamus Malone’s wrister off the post on a break up the middle.<\/p>\n
It was his seventh goal of the season, but couldn’t have been done without a team effort that started with a great check on the opposite end by Kunin. Wisconsin’s goal was assisted by Max Zimmer (4) and Grant Besse (14).<\/p>\n
However, Michigan State didn’t fold this time around. Instead, they went to work and drew a power play before two minutes had even ticked off the clock in the period.<\/p>\n
Michigan State wouldn’t waste its biggest opportunity of the period, with Carson Gatt (3) sneaking one right off one of Jurusik’s pads and in to the net. It was 1-1 at just the 3:41 mark.<\/p>\n
It would be a period was not without some controversy either. With the period heading to the mid-way mark, Michigan State appeared to take advantage of a lucky bounce for a 2-1 lead. However, some quick action by Jurusik allowed him to glove the puck before it completely crossed the goal line.<\/p>\n
It was called a goal on the ice though, and a replay decided no goal after a lengthly look at the play.<\/p>\n
\nNO GOAL! Clutch save from @mattjurusik on this one!<\/p>\n
First period 9:58 | UW 1, MSU 1 pic.twitter.com\/XYKbQ9uN5W<\/a><\/p>\n
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 8, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n