Badgers hockey finishes regular season with loss to OSU despite 40 saves from Rumpel
The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team was shut out, 2-0, by the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Kohl Center in the teams' last regular season contest Saturday night. It was the last home game for the Badgers' six seniors: Chase Drake, Joseph LaBate, Brad Navin, Matt Paape, Landon Peterson (who did not play) and Joel Rumpel.
The loss was Wisconsin's 25th of the season and gives this year's Badgers the worst record in school history.
Wisconsin (4-25-5, 2-15-3-2 Big Ten) took the first shot in what turned out to be a lackluster first period for both teams, who combined for 12 shots before the first intermission.
Ohio State (13-18-3, 8-11-1-1) got on the board the same way they had the night before, on a second period goal from Wisconsin native Tyler Lundey -- the junior forward's fourth career goal against the Badgers. The Buckeyes put more pressure on Rumpel in the second period, outshooting the Badgers 19-7.
Ohio State freshman forward Matthew Weis hit a shot off the side of the post that bounced off Rumpel's back into the net to pad the Buckeyes' lead in the third period.
Rumpel ended the game with 40 saves to Matt Tomkins' 17. It was Rumpel's sixth 40-save performance of the year and 57th career game allowing two goals or fewer.
Wisconsin will play Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten tournament at 7 p.m. CT on Thursday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The winner will take on Michigan State in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. CT.
