We are all creatures of habit. We all have a routine we follow. The same thing for sure is involved in a student-athletes life. Sometimes that routine gets interrupted. When that interruption in routine occurs, the result you are looking to achieve doesn’t always pan out. After a big win against Michigan on Tuesday night, there was a short turnaround time to prepare for Wisconsin. Let’s see how Friday night resulted for the Irish
First Period
The Irish came out firing from the moment the puck dropped. An early penalty in the period had the Irish playing catch up. At 5:31, Wisconsin Left Winger Linus Weissbach put the puck between the pipes from just outside the right side face-off circle. Coach Jackson commented on the early goal. “You can’t fall behind early in the game, you’re chasing the game the whole time. We are not team that’s going to score five goals from behind, chasing the game. We didn’t start as fast as we did against Michigan.”
Both teams did their fair share of trading blows offensively and defensively. As the period went on, late in the period, your “A” captain Dylan Malmquist lit the lamp for the Irish. Malmquist was assisted by Mike O’Leary and Tory Dello. Malmquist’s goal was a wrap around on Daniel Lebedeff’s glove side to tie the game at one a piece.
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Second Period
Both teams played a great second period. Both goalies played out of their mind. Early in the second period, Cale “Brickwall”Morris had an absolutely magnificent save as Brock Caufield fired a laser from the Morris’ right side from the face-off circle and Caufield was promptly denied at the 2:15 mark.
Both teams were playing at the same level. Both teams had attempted 20 shots, the Irish defense blocked six, while the Badger defense blocked three. The Badgers had two shots off target, while the Irish had four. Shots on target were about even. Twelve shots on target for the Badgers, as the Irish had 13 on target. The difference in the period was the late goal by Roman Achem who was assisted by previously denied Caufield. The goal put the Badgers up 2-1 at the end of the period.
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Third Period
If the Irish were going to climb out of the deficit they faced, they were going to have to do it early. The Irish created an opportunity as defense-men Peter Tischke was sent to the sin bin at 2:32 for interference. The man advantage for the Irish was short lived as Michael Graham was sent to the sin bin 1:04 later for tripping and that ended the power play for the Irish. Luckily Wisconsin did not score on their man advantage.
Both teams had an additional opportunity on the power play in which neither team would score on. There are moments when you come upon an opposing teams goalie and he just plays tremendous. Not to say Morris didn’t, he has those games as well. Morris stopped 35 of the 37 goals he faced. But the night ended in Lebedeff’s favor. The Badgers take game 1 by a score of 2-1.
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Next Up
The Irish take the ice against the Badgers this evening at 6 PM EST at Compton Family Ice Arena. For details on how to view or listen to the game click here.
Cheers and Go Irish! ☘⚡