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Spartan Recap: Michigan State Spartans Swept by Wisconsin Badgers

Spartan Recap: Michigan State Spartans Swept by Wisconsin Badgers
SEF College Hockey

Following a series split against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Michigan State Spartans and Wisconsin Badgers faced off in a two-game set in Madison. The Badgers swept the series, taking the first game 6-0, while the second game was a 4-1 victory.

Game 1:

There was only one line change prior to the first game with Cole Krygier departing the lineup in favor of Austin Kamer. Krygier was banged up in the second game against Ohio State. The matchup in goal was Drew DeRidder for the Spartans and Robbie Beydoun for the Badgers.

42 seconds in, Jagger Joshua took out Cole Caufield and was sent to the box, giving the Badgers a quick power play. Caufield, who was on the ice to begin the power-play put the Spartans down 1-0 early with a goal 12 seconds into the man advantage. Lass than four minutes in, Brock Caufield joined the scoring party early as a centering pass behind the net went off of DeRidder’s paddle and in to make it 2-0 Badgers early. With about five minutes go, Dylan Holloway finished a loose puck in front to make it 3-0. The goal was challenged for goaltender’s interference, but it was called a good goal. The Spartans went to the power-play for the first time with 4:12 to go as the Badgers’ Ryder Donovan was sent to the box for goaltending interference. Michigan State had some good chances but was unable to convert, so after one, Wisconsin held their 3-0 lead with a 16-7 shot advantage.

The second period started slow, but about five minutes in, Nico Muller headed to the locker room, and not long after, Kyle Haskins was looked at after being hit hard. With 12:41 to go in the second, the Spartans headed to the power-play for the second time in the game, but the Badgers successfully killed it off as the Michigan State power-play has had a tough time finding its rhythm this season. With 5:50 to go, Cole Caufield scored his second of the night to give Wisconsin a 4-0 lead. Kyle Haskins was called for tripping and went to the box with 2:05 remaining in the period, and the Badgers took advantage as Ty Pelton-Byce made it 5-0. After two, the Spartans were down 5-0 and were being outshot, 34-10.

Pierce Charleson began the third period in goal as the Spartans turned to the freshman netminder for the second time this season. About two minutes into the third period, the Spartans headed to the penalty kill as Adam Goodsir went to the box for hooking. The Badgers were unsuccessful on the man advantage for the first time in the game. The Badgers scored with 11:15 to go as Dylan Holloway made it 6-0. That ended up being the final, as the Badgers shut out the Spartans, 6-0 while having a 50-19 shot advantage.

Game 2:

Ahead of the second game of the series, it was announced that Jagger Joshua had received a one-game suspension for his hit on Cole Caufield and that Nico Muller suffered an injury in Game 1 that would keep him out of Saturday’s contest. With both players out, more line changes were made, as Cal Dybicz drew in for his NCAA debut as the seventh defenseman, and Jake Smith entered the lineup. Drew DeRidder started in goal for Michigan State, while Cameron Rowe started for Wisconsin.

In the first five minutes, the Badgers were in the Spartans’ zone, and heavily controlling it. They had a few strong opportunities and had seven shots, but were unable to score. With 2:57 to go in the period, Ryder Donovan went for a nasty hit from behind on Adam Goodsir. Goodsir slow to get up, but he stayed on the bench. After review, it was changed from a minor penalty to a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a check from behind. The Spartans had 2:03 of the power-play carry over after a strong first part, and after one, the Badgers had a 12-8 shot advantage in a scoreless game.

 

The second period started the same as the first ended, with the Badgers killing the Spartans’ extended power-play. A few minutes after, Cameron Rowe just robbed Lewandowski of a rebound goal. With 12:55 to go in the period, Brody Stevens gave the puck away to Cole Caulfield, who found Linus Weissbach to open the scoring. Less than a minute after, Powell Connor was sent to the box for cross-checking, but the Spartans killed the penalty off. Michigan State went to the power play just over halfway through the period as Dominic Mersch went off for slashing. The Spartans could not convert on the power play, and off the release, Mersch had a breakaway opportunity that Drew DeRidder stopped. Wisconsin played strong defense, including back-to-back blocked shots that had Owen Lindmark and Tyler Inamoto heading to the bench, hunched over. After two, the Badgers had a 1-0 lead over the Spartans with a 27-14 shot advantage.

The third period started in the Spartans’ favor, as just under four minutes in, Mitchell Lewandowski tied the game with a shot that zipped past Cameron Rowe for career point 97. With 8:36 to play, Aiden Gallacher hit Roman Ahcan from behind and it was called a minor to begin with, but after a review, it was changed to a five-minute major and a game misconduct. 1:10 into the Badgers’ power-play, Ty Pelton-Byce scored to make it 2-1. The power-play continued, and with 1:50 left to go on the man advantage, Cole Caufield made it 3-1. The power-play expired, but not before Wisconsin converted twice. With just under 1:30 to go, Drew DeRidder left the net in favor of an extra attacker. Cole Caufield picked Lewandowski’s pocket and made it 4-1 Badgers. That would be the final, with Wisconsin having the shot advantage, 41-18.

The Michigan State Spartans are scheduled to face the Michigan Wolverines on Tuesday, February 9, at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, but the Wolverines’ athletics program is currently on pause, and more information should be released this week.

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