A late surge from the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers proved just short as the No. 4 Michigan State Spartans held on for a 4-3 victory in a high-stakes Big Ten clash at the Kohl Center.
Despite a spirited final frame that saw Tyson Dyck bring the home side within one, the Badgers were unable to find the equaliser in front of a season-high crowd of over 12,000. The result marks a significant blow for Wisconsin in the conference standings as the Spartans continue their impressive mid-season form.
The visitors from East Lansing were clinical in the opening two periods, capitalising on defensive lapses to build a commanding lead. After a scoreless opening 18 minutes, Ryker Lee broke the deadlock for Michigan State late in the first.
While Oliver Tulk briefly levelled the scoring early in the second, the Spartans responded with three unanswered goals. Strikes from Gavin O’Connell, Daniel Russell, and Charlie Stramel left the Badgers facing a daunting 4-1 deficit heading into the final stages of the middle period.
Refusing to go quietly, Kyle Kukkonen sparked the Kohl Center back into life, netting with just two minutes remaining in the second to cut the lead to two.
The momentum stayed with Wisconsin in the third. Senior forward Tyson Dyck beat the Spartan defense to score at the 6:39 mark, making it a 4-3 game and setting up a grandstand finish. Blake Montgomery and the Wisconsin attack piled on the pressure, outshooting the Spartans 13-7 in the final period.
In the dying seconds, captain Ben Dexheimer came inches away from a miraculous comeback, but his shot rang off the post—the closest the Badgers would get to forcing overtime.
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