Badgers take a hit against the Wolverines

Thursday, November 19

Madison, WI

6 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

2-1-0, 2-1-0-0B1G

Michigan

3-0-0, 1-0-0-0B1G

Michigan

Wisconsin

Photo by: Tom Lynn

Badgers take a hit against the Wolverines

November 19, 2020 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

No. 14 Wisconsin drops home opener against No. 6 Michigan

MADISON, Wis. — The No. 14 Badgers (2-1-0, 2-1-0-0 Big Ten) took their first loss of the season in their home opener against the No. 6 Wolverines (3-0-0, 1-0-0-0 Big Ten) at LaBahn Arena on Thursday night.

Senior Josh Ess sniped his first goal of the season just 1:10 into the first on assists by seniors Ty Pelton-Byce and Linus Weissbach to put UW on the board with a 1-0 lead through the period.

Here's a l👀k back at Ess' top corner snipe! pic.twitter.com/RywmklbVaA
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 20, 2020

The Wolverines were hungry to tie up the game and finally stuffed one in with 5:22 to go in the second. Michigan added a pair late in the period, the first on Wisconsin's penalty kill, with goals in the final two minutes of the period with 1:42 and 3.2 seconds on the clock for a 3-1 edge at period end.

The Badgers came back in third though as Weissbach took advantage of an early power play, knocking in sophomore Cole Caufield's pass just a minute into the final frame.

L👀k back: @Weissbach68 pops one in off a @colecaufield pass!

Michigan - 3
UW - 2 pic.twitter.com/MC15Ok6pkg
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 20, 2020

However, Michigan retaliated with a power-play goal of their own at 16:02 and tapped in an empty-netter at the end of the game for a 5-2 final.

Senior netminder Robbie Beydoun made 29 saves.

Notes to know:

Senior Linus Weissbach had his second multi-point game of the season with a goal and assist.
Wisconsin's power play is 3-for-9 (33.3 percent) while its penalty kill sits at 5-for-8 (62.5 percent).
Senior Ty Pelton-Byce earned his third point of the season.

Up next: Wisconsin is back on the ice Friday night at 6 p.m. against Michigan. The game airs live on Fox Sports Wisconsin and 1310 WIBA, and streams at BTN+.