Badgers Drop Game One to Denver

It wasn't in many ways the prettiest games of hockey you'll ever see. Lots of penalty and at times poor defense doomed the Badgers Friday night against Denver.

In their first true road test of the season the Badgers traveled to the Colorado to take on the Pioneers. A trip that will now need to be salvaged with a split on Saturday after a 4-2 loss.

The Badgers played behind most of the game after Denver took a 1-0 lead in the first period. Denver's Jason Zucker capitalized on a Wisconsin turnover in their own end and pushed the Pioneers to an early lead.

Wisconsin would answer that goal later in the first period. Off of an odd bounce of the boards Jordy Murray was able to backhand the puck into the net. Bucky would manage a 1-1 tie coming into the break, but the second period would belong to Denver.

In the second Wisconsin looked as if they were spending more time in the penalty box than on the ice. During the eighth minute Craig Smith took a double minor that put the Badgers on the power play for four minutes. The penalty problems would continue for Wisconsin throughout the rest of the period including a five on three.

After it went back to five on four is when Denver struck again. Luke Salazar managed to tip in a David Makowski shot that got by Wisconsin goaltender Scott Gudmandson. Immediately following the goal Gudmandson protested to the referee to review it for a high stick deflection. The officials reviewed the play, but allowed the goal to count.

After trailing 2-1 heading into the second intermission the Badgers bounced back early in the third period. Within the first minute of the third Wisconsin's Craig Smith struck for his third goal of the season to bring the score back to even. Unfortunately for the Badgers that would be the end of their scoring on the night.

Later in the third Denver would add two gaols by Zucker and Drew Shore that would push the score to 4-2. A score that Wisconsin would be unable to overcome. The Badgers now move to 3-2-0 on the season and will take on Denver again tomorrow night at 7.