The Wisconsin Badgers men’s ice hockey team encountered a challenging weekend as they were defeated by The Ohio State Buckeyes in a two-game series in Columbus. The losses on Friday and Saturday proved detrimental to the Badgers’ Big Ten standings and marked their most difficult series of the season.
Prior to the series, the Badgers were contending for the top position in the Big Ten, trailing the Michigan State Spartans by five points. The opportunity to claim the lead was at stake, with two victories potentially propelling the Badgers to first place. However, the team fell short in both games against the Buckeyes.
In the initial game, both teams struggled in terms of scoring until the third period when Badger Jack Horbach broke the silence by securing the first goal. The intensity of the game heightened towards the end, with three goals scored in the closing minutes, resulting in the game going into overtime. Unfortunately, the Buckeyes secured an unexpected victory with a late breakaway goal.
The second game witnessed the Badgers’ typically reliable defense faltering as they fell behind early in the first period. Despite a power play goal in the second period, the team could not overcome the deficit, culminating in a 1-3 loss to the Buckeyes.
The weekend series served as a wake-up call for the Badgers, who endured their most disappointing showing of the season. Notably, this is only the second occasion they have lost both games in a series this season. Furthermore, this marked the first instance the team lost consecutive games to unranked opponents.
Badgers goaltender Kyle McClellan, renowned for his steadfastness, encountered difficulties in both games, with a lower than usual save percentage. Additionally, the team incurred a penalty in overtime during the first game, underscoring the challenges they encountered throughout the weekend.
With just four games remaining in the season, the Badgers will need to regroup and focus on their upcoming matchups, including two critical games against the Big Ten-leading Spartans. The team’s performance in the remaining games will be crucial as they strive to remain competitive for the top spot in the Big Ten.
The losses over the weekend serve as a reminder of the team’s necessity to address offensive challenges to complement their strong defensive efforts. As the playoffs approach, the Badgers will need to enhance their overall performance to maintain competitiveness in the league.
Ian Wilder, a senior staff writer and current men’s hockey beat reporter for The Daily Cardinal, provided coverage of the weekend series. His insights and analysis offer a comprehensive examination of the Badgers’ arduous performance against Ohio State.