The Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey team had scored just two first-period goals through its first 18 games. Last night, the Badgers scored three times in the first period, marking the first three-goal period for the team since the third period on Jan. 10, 2014 against Michigan.
The Badgers took a 3-1 lead into the second period against the Michigan Wolverines. Bucky went up 4-1 after a Jedd Soleway power play goal at 2:21 of the second period, giving the Badgers their first three goal lead of the season.
The good news stops there. Michigan, which entered the game as the highest scoring team in the nation, would follow with two goals in the second and four more in the third period, to come from behind to beat the Badgers 7-4 at the Kohl Center in the series opener on Friday night.
Grant Besse tallied a pair of goals in the loss for the Badgers, giving him five goals in the last three games. Besse leads the team with eight goals and 11 points.
The Wolverines made a goaltender change during the first intermission, removing Steve Racine for Zach Nagelvoort.
Michigan’s victory is their sixth in a row, the longest current win streak in the nation. The Wolverines were led by Justin Selman, who scored three times and added an assist.
Wisconsin was 3-for-7 on the power play, the first time the Badgers scored three times on the power play since 2012 against RIT.
Michigan’s win was its first at the Kohl Center since Nov. 24, 2006, ending a four-game slide in Madison.
The series finale is set for 7pm at the Kohl Center tonight.