No. 3 Wisconsin opens 2026 with sweep of Alaska Anchorage
Finley nets power-play and short-handed goal in 3-2 victory
MADISON, Wis. – A second-period short-handed goal from Quinn Finley proved to be the game-winner as the No. 3 Wisconsin men’s hockey team defeated the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, 3-2, on Saturday evening at the Kohl Center to earn its first sweep of the new year.
Wisconsin (15-3-2, 8-2-0 Big Ten – 22 points) jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then held on for the win over the Seawolves. It opened the scoring with two goals in the first period, one from Quinn Finley on the power play at 15:01 and another from Finn Brink at 16:10. UW extended its lead to three goals, 14:06 into the second, after Finley scored his first career shorthanded goal. Alaska Anchorage (3-15-0 Independent) got on the board, 14:06 into the second, with a power-play goal to make it 3-1, UW ahead of the final period. The Seawolves responded, 3:27 into the third period, but it wasn’t enough to complete a comeback as Wisconsin won 3-2, to complete the sweep.
How it Happened
First Period
The Badgers got the first power play of the night, 7:34 into the opening frame, but were not able to convert on any scoring chances to take an early lead.
UW earned a second power-play opportunity, 14:58 into the period, and it took junior forward Finley just three seconds to find the back of the net on the man advantage to open the scoring.
Just over a minute later, at 16:10, freshman forward Brink doubled Wisconsin’s lead with a wraparound goal.
At 17:04 into the frame, a penalty was called on the Badgers, but they killed it off to keep it a 2-0 game heading into the second.
Second Period
The second period was quiet until 9:23, when UW took a penalty to send UAA back on the man advantage. While on the kill, Finley found the back of the net after a pass from senior forward Christian Fitzgerald to tally his first career short-handed goal and second of the night.
At 13:17, the Seawolves had their third power play of the game, which Joey Potter capitalized on at 14:06 to give UAA its first goal of the weekend and make it a 3-1 game heading into the final period.
Third Period
Alaska Anchorage made it a one-goal game, 3:27 into the third, with a goal from Oren Shtrom.
With just over two minutes remaining, at 17:52 into the frame, each team took a penalty, but neither team was able to light the lamp during four-on-four play or in the final 2:08 of the contest as UW won, 3-2.
Wisconsin went 1-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 29-21 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
– Quinn Finley notched his first career short-handed goal
– Wisconsin finishes non-conference play with a 7-1-2 record
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On finishing non-conference play
“For us to be able to close the book on that and close it the way that we did is a win. To close a win and find a way to get out of here without getting bit is really important for us. Now, I told the guys, take care of each other. Get some rest on Sunday, and we’ll start climbing the mountain again. That’s what’s going to happen in the Big Ten. That’s just the way it is when you’re playing in this league.”
On the team executing set plays
“Different sports, different focuses. For us, it’s possession, and if you can quickly attack off a faceoff, it’s one of the few times teams aren’t in structure. A goal of ours is to try and score a faceoff goal every night. Those guys did a good job. We executed just enough tonight.”
Junior Forward Quinn Finley
On scoring five goals in his last four games
“I just try not to be satisfied. I’m always trying to get that next goal, get that next grade A opportunity, whether it’s for myself or for my teammates.”
Senior Defenseman Ben Dexheimer
On closing out the weekend with a win
“I think it was just stick-togetherness with the six of us back there, the forwards included. We just looked at each other and said we need to close the weekend down and stay tight. Especially Joe [Palodichuk] – he made a few major blocks at the end and we got it done.”
No.2 MSU Falls to Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 2/2-ranked Michigan State was defeated by Ohio State on Saturday night, 2-1, from the Schottenstein Center.
The Spartans move to 15-5-0 overall and 6-4-0 in Big Ten action this season, while Ohio State improves to 7-12-1 and 3-7 in conference play. Michigan State will look to rebound next week when it travels to Madison, Wis. for a series against No. 3/3-ranked Wisconsin on January 15-16 from the Kohl Center. Thursday night’s 9:00 p.m. ET contest will be televised on Big Ten Network.
MSU was out-shot 35-27 and Ohio State held a 40-23 advantage at the face-off dot. The Spartans were 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Senior Charlie Stramel was the lone Spartan to win a majority of his face-off battles going 13-8. Junior goaltender Trey Augustine was great in goal for Michigan State making 33 saves on 35 shots faced for a .943 save percentage.
Freshman Porter Martone’s second period goal increased his weekend point total to five on three goals and two assists. He was assisted by freshman Matt Lahey who tallied his first career point on the assist.
How It Happened
Both teams battled defensively throughout the first period with Augustine making 14 saves for MSU. Each side killed a penalty in the period as the Spartans were unable to get into a flow in their offensive zone.
Ohio State quickly took a 1-0 lead 2:53 into the second period. MSU looked to tie it up nearing the mid-way point of the period when junior Maxim Strbak put a shot off the right post. It was Martone who found the equalizer for the Spartans at the 10:06 mark, capitalizing on a Buckeye giveaway in their defensive zone. Lahey forced the turnover and found Martone alone in the slot for a 1-on-1 chance with the Ohio State goaltender.
The Buckeyes broke a 1-1 tie eight minutes into the third period after an OSU player snuck behind the Spartan defense and got a 1-on-1 chance against Augustine in the crease. MSU pulled Augustine from net with 2:30 remaining in the contest to put added pressure on the Buckeyes with an extra skater but was unsuccessful in its efforts despite five shots on goal in that span. The Spartans showed great effort preventing an empty net goal in the closing seconds of the contest, skating the full length of the ice to stop a potential Ohio State breakaway.
