Badgers' win streak ends at six with loss to visiting Penn State

The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team lost 6-3 in Friday night's opener against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., ending a six-game win streak.

Since the start of 2017, Wisconsin (15-9-1, 8-3-0-0 Big Ten) has scored first in seven of nine games, winning all seven. This was the second game in 2017 that UW allowed the first goal, and second of those games dropped.

Penn State (17-6-2, 6-4-1 Big Ten) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, thanks to goals by David Goodwin and Brandon Viro.

In the second period, Badgers goals by Seamus Malone and Luke Kunin tied up the game before the Nittany Lions' Denis Smirnov and Goodwin each lit the lamp to go into the second intermission with a 2-point lead.

https://twitter.com/BadgerMHockey/status/830239142487392256

PSU's Trevor Hamilton scored a short-handed goal early in the third period. The Badgers' Jake Linhart struck back on the power play, but Wisconsin couldn't muster the goals needed to close the gap. Zach Saar's empty netter sealed the game.

Badgers freshman goaltender Jack Berry finished with 25 saves to Peyton Jones' 30.

Junior forward Cameron Hughes' career-long scoring streak ended at eight games, matching the longest of the season for any Badger (Grant Besse). Hughes had four goals and 10 points during the streak.

Wisconsin and Penn State split their last series March 4-5, 2016, at the Kohl Center before Wisconsin lost to Penn State in the 2016 Big Ten Tournament in St. Paul, Minn.

The teams clash again Saturday night at 7 p.m. for the conclusion of 'Scout Weekend', when area boys and girls scouts are invited to spend the weekend at the Kohl Center.