“We didn’t have it in the first period, they were very dominate (and) we dug a hole that we couldn’t quite dig out of,” head coach Tom Anastos said. “On the bright side, it showed again our resiliency to keep coming back and it also showed we competed really hard in those 40 minutes.”

Junior forward Matt Berry and senior forward Dean Chelios had the other Spartan goals. The Saturday afternoon goal was Berry’s fourth in his last three games.

Berry’s goal also came on the power play, giving MSU four power play goals on the weekend and four straight games with a power play goal.

Senior forward Greg Wolfe said the recent power play success is a positive sign heading into the Big Ten Tournament next weekend.

“Our power play has been a lot better, three for three last night and another tonight, I don’t remember the last time we had four power play goals in the weekend,” Wolfe said. “That’s what we need, special teams is what the game is about right now.”

Wolfe added that the team’s latest scoring frenzy is another good sign as the Spartans move forward.

Like Friday's game, Wisconsin struck early in the first period, but this time, it came in a pair. Sophomore forward Nic Kerdiles found the back of the net only 2:55 into the game on a power play goal. The Badgers added to their lead only 1:32 later on a shot from the point from senior defenseman Gavin Hartzog.

Wisconsin added two more goals before the first intermission. Senior forward Sean Little scored at the 14:52 mark of the period and freshman forward Grant Besse scored only 1:38 later.

The Badgers also were able to kill off a five-minute major penalty halfway through the first period. Senior forward Mark Zengerle received a game misconduct for checking from behind.

The second period was a different story for MSU, as the Spartans scored two goals to trim the Wisconsin lead to 4-2 heading into the third period.

MSU finally found the scoreboard 1:26 into the second period on another power play goal from Berry. The goal came on a shot that bounced off Wisconsin senior forward Michael Mersch’s helmet and flipped into the net.

Dean Chelios scored the second Spartan goal on a weak shot from just above the right circle with 10:10 left in the period.

Freshman forward Joe Cox also had a penalty shot for MSU in the second period, but came up short. Cox made a good move to beat Badger goaltender Joel Rumpel, but lost the handle of the puck before he could put it in the net.

Freshman forward Villiam Haag continued the MSU comeback into the third period, scoring only 5:25 into the period. Haag put the puck high past Rumpel’s glove to trim the Wisconsin lead to only one goal.

MSU finished the night with 33 shots, outshooting the Badgers by 11 shots.

Senior goaltender WIll Yanakeff got the start and finished the night with 18 saves. Yanakeff didn’t give up a goal for the final 43:29 of the game.

It was Yanakeff’s first start since Nov. 9 at Michigan Tech.

With the regular season over, MSU now will move all of its focus on the Big Ten Tournament next weekend. 

MSU will open the tournament as the fifth seed against Ohio State on Thursday in the first round. After splitting with Wisconsin this weekend, senior defenseman Jake Chelios is confident in the team’s ability to play with anybody in next week’s tournament.

“It’s about getting hot at the right time and we have been playing well lately,” he said. “(We) just need to be consistent and I think we can make a run.”