The seventh-ranked Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat the previously undefeated No. 1 Michigan State Spartans 5-4 at Munn Ice Arena, snapping MSU’s nine-game winning streak.
Michigan State took an early 2-0 lead in the first period, including a power-play goal. However, the Badgers erupted in the second period, scoring four unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead. Christian Fitzgerald started the rally on the power play at 1:08. Blake Montgomery then lit the lamp at 4:11, followed by Adam Pietila giving Wisconsin its first lead at 11:19, and Tyson Dyck extending it to 4-2.
The third period saw the Spartans battle back, cutting the lead to one at 9:34. But Ryan Botterill delivered the decisive blow just 16 seconds later at 9:50, restoring the two-goal cushion. Though Michigan State scored again at 10:24, the Badgers held firm for the final minutes to secure the massive 5-4 upset and hand the Spartans their first conference loss of the year.
