Just when the Wisconsin Badgers seemed poised to break free from Ohio State’s grip after a Friday night win, the Buckeyes came charging back on Saturday with a third-period rally that flipped the script. Now, the Badgers have to quickly regroup as they prepare to host the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines this weekend.
The 13th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers (18-10-2, 11-9 B1G) are fighting tooth and nail for playoff survival, making Saturday’s stumble even more frustrating. While their offense was firing on all cylinders in the first game, the second game saw them fall into a dump-and-chase pattern. The offensive struggles that have haunted them this year reemerged, as they couldn’t net a five-on-five goal and rarely maintained puck control in the offensive zone.
This marks the third time in four games that Wisconsin has let a third-period lead slip away, all against the Big Ten’s lower-tier teams. They managed to recover against Notre Dame but couldn’t do the same in Columbus.
Adding to their woes, starting goalie Daniel Hauser exited Friday’s game with an upper-body injury, paving the way for Eli Pulver to start on Saturday. Coach Mike Hastings hinted that Pulver might start against Michigan this weekend. Hauser’s evaluation in Madison showed no structural damage, but his limited range of motion might keep him sidelined for now.
Pulver has been pulled from three of his last four starts and gave up some soft goals last weekend. While Wisconsin’s offense didn’t do enough to secure a win on Saturday, Pulver’s positioning was off on Ohio State’s first goal, and he struggled with a weak backhand on the second. The Buckeyes’ third goal came after a careless turnover by Luke Osburn, with Ryan Gordon capitalizing on the mistake.
If Pulver gets the nod, he’ll need to channel his earlier performances against top teams like Michigan State. But just solid goaltending won’t be enough against the Wolverines; Wisconsin will need to find the back of the net.
Michigan (24-5-1, 15-4-1 B1G) boasts the NCAA’s top scoring offense, averaging 4.70 goals per game. With players like T.J.
Hughes and Michael Hage racking up over 40 points each, and Will Horcoff and Jayden Perron surpassing 30 points, the Wolverines are a force. In contrast, Wisconsin’s Gavin Morrissey leads his team with 28 points.
The Badgers did manage a split in Ann Arbor earlier this season, but they were on an upswing back then. Now, they’re struggling to regain momentum and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.
The road ahead doesn’t get easier after facing the conference’s lower-ranked teams. Following the Michigan series, Wisconsin has a bye before heading to No.
6 Penn State to wrap up the regular season. Sitting on the bubble for postseason play, the Badgers likely need at least two wins in their final four games to bolster their chances before the Big Ten Tournament.
The loss to Ohio State was a missed opportunity to secure a crucial win.
Currently, Wisconsin is set to host the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, holding an eight-point lead over Ohio State and Minnesota. The Buckeyes and Gophers face tough opponents to close the season, so it would take some major upsets for Wisconsin to lose home-ice advantage, which could be key if they need a strong tournament run.
This weekend, the Badgers are in a tight spot, which might just make them dangerous. They’ll need to play with urgency to compete against a Michigan team that’s been dominant all year. While they can’t lose their postseason bid this weekend, a couple of standout performances could certainly secure it.
The Kohl Center is expected to be electric despite a challenging start to 2026. Friday is fan appreciation night, and Coach Hastings emphasized the importance of delivering a strong performance at home, saying fans want to be entertained. He’s aiming for better play on both ends of the ice, acknowledging that the Kohl Center crowd knows and appreciates when the team gives it their all.
Saturday will also honor the team’s seven seniors before the game, celebrating the contributions of captain Ben Dexheimer, Kyle Kukkonen, Simon Tassy, Christian Fitzgerald, Tyson Dyck, Jack Horbach, and Aiden Dubinsky.
Date: February 20-21
Time: Friday - 7 p.m.
| Saturday - 6 p.m.
Place: Madison, Wis.
| Kohl Center