While the No. 9/10 Wisconsin men’s hockey team has seen split series during the last three weekends of Western Collegiate Hockey Association play, this weekend’s contest against No. 7 Colorado College was a very different story.
The Badgers (2-3 WCHA, 5-5 overall) were swept by the Tigers (7-1, 7-3) 4-3 Friday and 6-1 Saturday.
Friday’s game saw a sluggish Badger group trying to get a hold of the environment at Colorado Springs World Arena, and it showed on the scoreboard as the Tigers jumped out to an early lead.
Colorado College scored the only goal in the first period at the 12:43 mark, with a score by senior forward Jimmy Kilpatrick. Junior defenseman Jake Gannon and junior center Chad Rau were credited with the assist on Kilpatrick’s goal, which was his third of the season.
Colorado College scored again in the second period, to take a 2-0 lead on a goal from Rau less than two minutes into the frame. Rau’s wrist shot slid right through UW junior goaltender Shane Connelly’s legs.
However Wisconsin bounced back, and was able to tie CC going into the final period. Less than two minutes after Rau’s goal, sophomore forward Michael Davies scored his third goal of the season to cut the lead in half. Sophomore forward Ben Grotting and freshman forward Kyle Turris were credited with assists on the goal.
With 58 seconds left in the second frame, sophomore forward John Mitchell found the back of the net. Mitchell backhanded a shot through Colorado College freshman goalie Richard Bachman. The assists were credited to two defenseman, freshman Ryan McDonagh and sophomore Jamie McBain.
Wisconsin came out in the third period with all the momentum that they had gained in the second, and took their first lead of the game only 24 seconds into the period. Sophomore forward Blake Geoffrion scored off of a rebound from a shot from senior forward Josh Engel.
However, the Badgers’ three straight goals would not be enough, as the Tigers scored two straight goals to take game one of the series.
Saturday’s 6-1 loss was the worst loss for the Badgers so far this season. Colorado College scored three first period goals. Senior right winger Derek Patrosso scored midway through the first and Rau added a shorthanded goal to give Colorado College a 2-0 lead. From then on the Badgers were out of it, but did outshoot the Tigers 21-17 in the final two periods.
Freshman forward Patrick Johnson got Wisconsin on the board 45 seconds into the final frame, with the assist going to Engel.
Connelly stopped 32 shots in five periods of action over the weekend series, while freshman Scott Gudmandson stopped five shots in the third period on Saturday.
Wisconsin will once again be on the road over Thanksgiving weekend, as they head to the state of Michigan to play in the College Hockey Showcase against No. 1 Michigan and No. 3 Michigan State.
—uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
