Badgers fall short in Big Ten title game

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team’s shot at an NCAA Tournament bid ended Saturday night as the Badgers lost to Penn State, 2-1 in double overtime, in the Big Ten championship game in Detroit.

UW ended its first season under new coach Tony Granato with a 20-15-1 record after combining for 12 victories in the previous two seasons. The Badgers were runners-up in both the Big Ten regular season and the tournament.

Liam Folkes scored both goals for Penn State (24-11-2), including the winner on a breakaway 6:43 into the second overtime at Joe Louis Arena.

UW’s Matt Ustaski scored a power-play goal with 8:15 remaining in the third period to tie the game. Freshman goalie Jack Berry made 33 saves for the Badgers, while Penn State’s Peyton Jones stopped 51 of UW’s 52 shots on goal.

“Our guys played their hearts out. We had lots of chances, we made good shots on too, but they couldn’t find their way in,” Granato said. “Some games you battle and play like crazy and get great chances and they don’t go in.”