No. 10 Buckeyes Take Two Points at No. 1 Wisconsin

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MADISON, Wis. — Freshman goaltender Andrea Braendli notched 52 saves as the No. 10 Ohio State University women’s ice hockey team (18-12-1, 12-10-1-1 WCHA) took two points from the No. 1 University of Wisconsin Badgers (28-4-1, 18-4-1-0 WCHA) with a 1-1 tie and shootout win at LaBahn Arena on Friday.

Coach Muzerall on the Game

“We’re very happy to have Andrea back, she just seemed so solid and relaxed against a fantastic opponent. She was calm and composed, and that’s what you need in your goaltender.”

“Sometimes when you’re the underdog team and you’re down 1-0 it’s hard to keep focused and keep positive, and we talked about that all week. If it happens, how would we punch back and continue to rally? They found a way to do it.”

The Nitty Gritty

• Ohio State withstood much of the Wisconsin attack in the opening period, but an Abby Roque power-play-goal at the 8:43 point of the period gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead heading into the second.
• After neither team scored in the second the Bucks came out on fire in the third looking to even things up. The equalizer came from none other than Tatum Skaggs, netting her team-high 15^th goal of the season, to tie the game at 1-1.
• As Wisconsin pressed late in regulation Andrea Braendli proved why she’s one of the most valuable players in the conference, making save after save, including a toe save on Annie Pankowski with 2:08 to play to help send the game into overtime.

BRAENDLI WITH THE SAVE!! She STONEWALLS Pankowski to keep @OhioStateWHKY alive late!#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/L5KttlnHOJ

— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) February 23, 2019

• The Buckeyes kept Wisconsin from notching a shot-on-goal in OT, but the lone SOG for the Bucks didn’t light the lamp so the teams went to a shootout to determine who claimed the second point in the WCHA standings.
• Braendli stood tall in the shootout, stopping all three Wisconsin shooters as Emma Maltais scored to secure the extra point for the Buckeyes.
• The 52 saves tallied by Braendli are a career-high, topping her previous high of 44.
• Maltais and Jincy Dunne notched assists on the Skaggs goal.
• The Buckeyes clinched the No. 3 seed in the WCHA tournament with the shootout win, giving them home ice for the opening round of the tournament next weekend.

First Period

The Buckeyes thought they’d have their hands full with the top ranked Badgers and the first period confirmed their suspicions. Wisconsin outshot OSU 15-to-5 in the period, with none being as costly as Roque’s PPG that sent the Bucks into the locker room down 1-0.

Second Period

Ohio State continued to fire away looking for an equalizer, but neither team found the back of the net in the second as Wisconsin’s 1-0 lead held through to the third. OSU put 10 SOG in the second.

Third Period

Through gritted teeth the Bucks kept plugging away until the levy finally broke and Skaggs evened things up at 1-1.

HOW?? Tatum Skaggs redirects one to pull @OhioStateWHKY even with the Badgers late!!#GoBucks#BTNStandout x @AutoOwnersIns pic.twitter.com/MfXBe50yV1

— Ohio State on BTN (@OhioStateOnBTN) February 23, 2019

Wisconsin pressed on trying to regain the lead throughout the rest of the period, but the Badgers didn’t have an answer for Braendli and the teams went to overtime tied at 1-1.

Overtime

Ohio State controlled the puck for most of the OT period, and notched the lone SOG of the period for either team when Dunne fired one at UW goaltender Kirsten Campbell. It looked like the Buckeyes might get out of LaBahn with three points as Maltais clanged one off the pipe, but it was not meant to be as the teams went to a shootout to determine who claimed the second point in the standings.

Shootout

Braendli was a woman possessed in the OSU net, stopping Pankowski, Sophie Shirley and Roque, allowing Maltais to secure the shootout win when she slid one past Campbell. With the shootout win the Buckeyes clinched the No. 3 seed in the WCHA tournament, giving them home ice for the opening round next weekend.

Even after 52 saves and an incredible performance, Andrea Braendeli still had some more in her back pocket to spur the celebration tonight. 🙌#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/bfafMusPHI

— Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) February 23, 2019

What’s Next?

The Buckeyes hit the ice tomorrow looking to escape Madison with five points. Puck drop for the regular season finale is set for 4:07 p.m. ET in LaBahn Arena.