MSU hockey (13-13-2, 7-5-2-2 Big Ten) rebounded from a 2-1 loss on Friday with a 3-0 shutout over Wisconsin (4-20-4, 2-10-2 Big Ten). Junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand finished with 31 saves and junior forward Ryan Keller notched two goals in the victory.
Sophomore forward Thomas Ebbing added his third goal of the season, and junior captain Michael Ferrantino collected two assists.
Keller had perhaps the best 20 minutes of his Spartan career in the first period. He scored the first goal of the game at the 12:02 mark. After a flurry of saves from UW goaltender Joel Rumpel, Keller gathered the puck and found the top corner over Rumpel’s glove.
Just 4:41 later, Keller made gave MSU a 2-0 lead after scoring his prettiest goal of the year. Senior forward Brent Darnell made a backhand pass to Keller in front of the net, who took it on his forehand and in one single motion spun around and snuck a backhand shot between Rumpel’s pads.
The goals were Keller’s fifth and sixth of the season while Ferrantino picked up assists on both goals. The Spartans outshot the Badgers 13-4 in the opening frame.
The Badgers picked up their offensive pressure in the second period. Hildebrand stood tall to the task, however, stopping all 10 shots he faced in the stanza. Each team had two power play opportunities in the second but neither could capitalize on the man-advantage.
Ebbing added to MSU’s lead 4:57 into the final period. Following a Badgers turnover behind their net, sophomore forward Joe Cox shoveled a backhand pass in front of the net. Ebbing came streaking in from the side boards and notched his third goal of the year after Rumpel could not get over in time.
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