MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin ended Bemidji State’s three-game winning streak by scoring three unanswered goals to defeat the Beavers 3-2 Friday night at the Kohl Center.
Radoslav Illo and Jordan George scored in the opening minutes in a strong start for BSU, but Craig Smith capped Wisconsin’s comeback and won the game for the Badgers with his second power-play goal of the night 2:32 into the third period.
“We played great- you can’t ask any more out of our guys,” Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore said. “We were an eyelash from going up 3-0. We played a heck of a road game, a heck of a first period. We wish we could have earned a better fate but it just didn’t happen.”
Podge Turnbull also scored for No. 16 Wisconsin and Badger goalie Scott Gudmanson finished with 25 saves. Bemidji State goalie Dan Bakala, who had two shutouts in the last three games, had 25 saves in the loss.
Bemidji State saw its three-game winning streak come to an end and fell to 5-9-1 overall (4-8-1 WCHA) in front of 11,358 spectators. Wisconsin improved to 9-7-3 overall (5-6-2 WCHA). The two teams wrap up the series and the first half of the season today at 7:07 p.m. from the Kohl Center.
“I think we just have to forget about it and worry about tomorrow now,” Bemidji State defenseman Brad Hunt said. “Tonight’s over and we have to bounce back tomorrow, keep our heads up high and come with a victory tomorrow.”
Bemidji State hit the Badgers with back-to-back blows to open the game.
Illo put the Beavers on the board when he cut across the slot and backhanded a shot over Gudmandson’s glove 2:01 in for his second goal of the season.
Illo’s goal came on Jordy Murray’s delayed interference penalty and the Beavers converted the ensuing power play into a goal 29 seconds later. Ian Lowe passed to George at the far side of the net and he buried the puck when Gundmandson was out of position to make the save.
Smith scored his first of the night on the power play at 12:16 of the first period to cut BSU’s lead to 2-1 and that was how the first period ended.
“I think we came in and played a good road period,” Hunt said. “I think everything went good in the first period and there wasn’t anything wrong with that.”
The Badgers tied the game at 2-2 at 12:12 of the second period when Turnbull’s straight-on shot from just inside the blue line appeared to screen and beat Bakala.
“When they had the momentum we have to try and take it away quicker,” Hunt said. “We know they’ve got a big crowd here and they kind of ride the wave, so we have to make plays to take the momentum away from them.”
A pair of penalties led to Wisconsin’s winning goal: Shea Walters’ checking from behind major in the closing minutes of the second period and Hunt’s interference minor minutes into the third.
As the Walters penalty expired, Smith scored the game-winner on a wrist shot from the top of the circles 2:32 into the third period. Wisconsin’s top-ranked WCHA power play was 2-for-5 in the game and ended BSU’s streak of four straight games without allowing a power play goal.
“Obviously they won the power play battle 2-1 tonight, but I thought we killed penalties great,” Serratore said. “Did it shoot us in the foot? Probably not. Putting us down five on three was the killer.”
The Beavers nearly tied the game in the final minute with the extra attacker on the ice. George had an open look on Gudmandson from the top of the crease with seconds left, but could not get his stick on the rebound and the puck went into the corner.
“After they scored, we weren’t very sharp in the third,” Serratore said. “We were running around, we quit defending for awhile, we got very loose…they could have capitalized on a few more opportunities but we hung in there. It was a very interesting last five minutes…it’s just a little too late.
BSU 2 0 0 -2
UW 1 1 1 -3
First period – 1. BSU, Illo 2 (MacIntyre, Walters), 2:01. 2. BSU, George 7 (Lowe, Read), 2:30, (pp). 3. UW, Smith 8 (Barnes, Mersch), 12:16, (pp).
Second period- 4. Turnbull 4 (Dolan, Schultz), 12:12.
Third period- 5. UW, Smith 9 (Zengerle, Schultz), 2:32, (pp).
Shots on goal – BSU, 8-8-11-27. UW, 7-9-12-28.
Goalies- BSU, Bakala (28-26). UW, Gudmandson (27-25).
Power plays- BSU 1-for-3. UW, 2-for-5.
A- 11, 358.
