UNIVERSITY PARK — The Wisconsin Badgers’ hockey team traveled to Penn State for a two-game series at Pegula Ice Arena on Thursday and Friday nights, leaving with a clean sweep over the Nittany Lions.
The Nittany Lions got on the board first in the opening period when Cade Christenson scored with 13:35 remaining. Just three minutes later, Quinn Finley responded for Wisconsin to tie the game at 1–1. About two minutes after that, Gavin McKenna scored again for Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions a 2–1 lead heading into the second period.
Wisconsin came out strong in the second period, scoring two unanswered goals within the first five minutes courtesy of Vasily Zelenov and Grady Deering, giving the Badgers a 3–2 lead. Penn State responded late in the period when Aiden Fink scored with 1:06 remaining to tie the game at 3–3 heading into the third period.
The third period belonged entirely to Wisconsin, as the Badgers scored four unanswered goals. Simon Tassy opened the scoring four minutes into the period, followed by Ryan Botterill just three minutes later. Adam Pietila and Gavin Morrissey added late goals with six minutes remaining, sealing a 7–3 victory for Wisconsin.
That Wisconsin offense carried over into Friday’s game, as the Badgers scored four unanswered goals over the first two periods. Quinn Finley got things started in the first period with 8:23 remaining, and his goal would be the only one of the frame, giving Wisconsin a 1–0 lead heading into the second period.
Gavin Morrissey struck less than 30 seconds into the second period, and less than two minutes later, Oliver Tulk added another goal to give Wisconsin a 3–0 lead. Blake Montgomery extended the advantage with 15:08 remaining in the period. Penn State finally got on the board when Shea Van Olm and Reese Lauback combined for a goal, cutting the deficit to 4–2 heading into the third period.
Oliver Tulk scored his second goal of the game in the third period, pushing Wisconsin’s lead to 5–2. That would stand as the final score, as the Badgers completed an upset series sweep over the Nittany Lions.
Penn State drops to 20–12–2 overall and 12–10–2 in Big Ten play following the series sweep.
