Wisconsin Aims to Bounce Back After Tough Loss to Michigan State
Big Ten hockey is back in full swing, and the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers are right back in the thick of it.
After nearly three weeks away from conference play, the Badgers returned to the ice Thursday night and took a punch from No. 4 Michigan State, falling 4-3 in a game that saw the Spartans take control in the second period and hang on late.
Now, with another matchup looming tonight at the Kohl Center, Wisconsin has a chance to even the series and keep its edge in the Big Ten standings.
Let’s set the table: Wisconsin entered the series at 15-4-2 overall and 8-3 in Big Ten play. Despite trailing Michigan in total points, the Badgers led the conference in win percentage - thanks to having two fewer games played. But after Thursday’s result, Michigan State (now 16-5-0, 7-4 B1G) is breathing down Wisconsin’s neck, and a sweep would vault the Spartans ahead in the standings.
Second Period Surge Sinks Badgers
Thursday’s game turned on a dominant second period from Michigan State. The Spartans poured in three unanswered goals to build a 4-1 lead, and while Wisconsin mounted a late push, it wasn’t enough. Kyle Kukkonen and Tyson Dyck each found the back of the net in the third to cut the deficit to one, but the Badgers couldn’t complete the comeback.
Ben Dexheimer came inches from tying it up - literally. The defenseman rang a shot off the post late in the third, a moment that felt all too familiar for Wisconsin fans.
Dexheimer also hit iron in a tight game against Western Michigan earlier this season, and the Badgers as a whole have had their share of close calls clanging off the pipe. It’s the kind of luck that can define a season - or derail it - if it doesn’t start breaking your way.
Goaltending Questions Loom
Thursday also marked Daniel Hauser’s first start against Michigan State this season, after Eli Pulver got the nod in both games when the Badgers swept the Spartans in East Lansing back in November. Hauser gave up four goals on 23 shots, including that tough second-period stretch where the Spartans took over.
To be fair, Wisconsin has won a few games this season while allowing four goals - but that’s not a formula you want to rely on in Big Ten hockey. Giving up that many puts a ton of pressure on your offense to keep pace, and it’s hard to win consistently that way.
Expect Pulver to be back in net tonight. The sophomore transfer from Minnesota State has been a steady presence this season, and since he and Hauser began splitting starts, Pulver’s been the more consistent of the two. Head coach Mike Hastings has been careful not to lean too heavily on one guy, but if Pulver continues to outplay Hauser, the coaching staff may have to rethink the timeshare in goal.
Old Faces, New Threats
There was a bit of irony in Thursday’s loss, too. Former Badger Charlie Stramel came back to haunt his old team, tallying two points for Michigan State. That gives him four points in three games against Wisconsin this season - a reminder that the transfer portal giveth, and it taketh away.
Power Play Needs a Spark
Wisconsin’s power play has been a key weapon all season, but it didn’t quite click Thursday night. Officially, the Badgers went 0-for-2 with the man advantage - though their first goal came just two seconds after a power play expired.
Still, they struggled to generate consistent pressure until the third period, when they fired 13 of their 27 total shots. If they want to flip the script in Game 2, they’ll need to start tilting the ice earlier and more often.
What’s at Stake Tonight
This isn’t just about revenge - it’s about positioning. A win tonight keeps Wisconsin in at least a share of second place in the Big Ten, with a favorable win percentage still working in their favor.
But a loss could drop them all the way to fourth, depending on how other results shake out - particularly if No. 8 Penn State finishes a sweep of Notre Dame.
And with Penn State coming to Madison next week, the Badgers have a prime opportunity to stay in control of their destiny. Ten regular-season games remain, and six of them are against teams in the hunt for the Big Ten title. Every point matters, and every game feels a little bigger from here on out.
The Bottom Line
Wisconsin has been one of the best teams in the country this season, and they’ve earned that ranking with big wins in big moments. But staying near the top means responding when things don’t go your way - and Thursday night didn’t. Tonight’s rematch is more than just a shot at a split; it’s a chance to reassert themselves as the team to beat in the Big Ten.
Puck Drop:
📅 Friday, January 16
🕖 7:00 p.m. CT
📍 Kohl Center, Madison, WI
Let’s see how the Badgers respond.