MADISON – It had been a while since the Wisconsin men’s hockey team had a statement win.
Then Michigan came to town.
The Wolverines entered the weekend ranked No. 2 in the nation, but Friday, Feb. 20 they were the second-best team on the ice as Wisconsin scored a 3-1 victory. It was the Badgers' first ranked win since it completed a sweep of then No. 1 Michigan State on Nov. 22.
Wisconsin scored all its goals during a 9 ½-minute span in the second period. Freshman Vasily Zelenov scored the game-winner at the 8-minute 51-second mark. Sophomore Adam Pietila added some insurance for UW with the team's third goal of the night at the 16:48 mark.
Overall seven Badgers score a point. Freshman Grady Deering (two assists) and senior Jack Horbach, who scored an empty net goal during the final 2 minutes, had two points nights.
Junior Quinn Finley tied the game at the 7:25 mark with his team-leading 15th goal of the season.
Sophomore goaltender Eli Pulver, who started in place of David Hauser (upper body), finished with 22 saves and didn’t allow a goal during the final two periods.
Check jsonline later for more on the game.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin men's hockey uses three goal second period to upset Michigan