Michigan hockey upset perhaps the top team in the Big Ten to set themselves up for a perfect weekend. The squad is still looking for its first conference sweep of the season.
The Wolverines defeated No. 3 Wisconsin at Yost Ice Arena on Friday night, 5-1. This was only UW’s third conference defeat, and the only one by three goals or more.
The series finale between both teams will take place on Saturday at Yost.
As news of Sherrone Moore’s promotion to head football coach emerged from the other side of the parking lot, the icers handled their own business on State Street. Garrett Schifsky got the scoring started 6:28 into the first period as U-M went end to end in a hurry. Dylan Duke delivered the pass that fell to the slot, and the Badgers left Schifsky unmarked in transition as the freshman scored his 11th goal of the season.
The Wolverines added a pair in the second period. The first came from Frank Nazar III, who added to the U-M advantage with 6:11 left in the frame. He settled a Gavin Brindley pass with his glove and then had two cracks at Kyle McClellan. The talented goaltender stopped the first but not the second, which found twine.
Dylan Duke made it 3-0 for Michigan in the closing minute of the second period as the nation’s best power play showed its prowess. The junior tipped a Rutger McGroarty shot home to give the Wolverines a comfortable advantage heading to the locker room.
U-M has struggled to maintain leads — including against these same Badgers in November. And Wisconsin did score early in the third period to make things interesting. But Nazar responded with his second of the night just three minutes later. He one-timed a Seamus Casey pass to make it 4-1 with 14:56 left to play
The Badgers pulled their goalie on a power play with 6:30 left, and the strategy did not work. As the penalty ended and Ethan Edwards returned to the ice, he retrieved a long pass behind the empty net and sealed the win.
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