Michigan
10-2-0, 3-1-0
Wisconsin
7-1-2, 3-1-0
Michigan Settles for Split With Loss to No. 10 Wisconsin
11/8/2025 11:45:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Luca Fantilli scored Michigan's lone goal of the evening, a shorthanded tally.
» Defensemen Asher Barnett and Tyler Duke picked up the assists on Fantilli's goal.
» Penalties were the name of the game; the rivals combined for 37 total penalties and 170 PIM.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team dropped a 6-1 decision to No. 10 Wisconsin on Saturday night (Nov. 8) to settle for a series split at Yost Ice Arena. It was an endless parade of penalties with a combined 37 for 170 penalty minutes.
Wisconsin (7-1-2, 3-1-0 Big Ten) scored on its first two power-play chances of the night to take a 2-0 lead. The first was scored by a defenseman who walked into the slot and threaded a shot through a host of bodies at 7:13. A bit over five minutes later, UW used offensive-zone traffic once again to notch a goal.
Four seconds after embarking on the second power play of the period at 15:52, U-M was called for a minor penalty of its own to immediately even up the action at 4-on-4.
The Badgers owned a 2-0 lead after one period and also led 12-9 in shots on goal and 15-10 in faceoffs.
Just moments after a good scoring chance for Michigan at the other end of the ice, UW converted on the counter-attack to make it 3-0 less than two minutes into the second period.
Michigan struck back with a shorthanded goal at 4:59 to energize the sold-out crowd. Luca Fantilli collected a turnover and broke into a sprint down the left flank of the ice. The senior blueliner had his classmate, Josh Eernisse, skating with him stride-for-stride down the center lane. After receiving a pass from Fantilli, Eernisse put an attempt on goal that was stymied by a strong save. With the puck still up for grabs, Fantilli swooped in toward the blue paint and finished off the rebound to make it 3-1.
Wisconsin muted the momentum with an even-strength goal at 7:34 that made it 4-1.
Michigan thought it scored with 6:15 left in the middle frame, but it was waved off for goaltender interference. U-M used its timeout to challenge the play, but the officials upheld their original decision.
Frustration boiled over with 4:34 remaining when each team sent a skater to the penalty box following a fracas after the whistle in the UW zone. A lengthy review resulted in Garrett Schifsky being shown the gate with a major penalty and game misconduct for grasping a facemask to grant Wisconsin an extended power play.
The Wolverines showed heart as they blocked shot after shot while killing the penalty. Eventually, a Badger forward sneaked behind the last defender back to catch a pass at the blue line and skate in on net before cashing in on a breakaway at 17:47 to extend the lead to 5-1.
Each team had 22 shots on goal through 40 minutes, but Wisconsin owned a four-goal lead.
The Badgers added a sixth goal at 6:05 of the third period to make it 6-1.
Another large-scale post-whistle gathering at 9:49 resulted in a number of penalties. Each side sent two skaters to the box in addition to an extra Wolverine who had initially been whistled for a delayed penalty before chaos erupted. After all of the deliberations were complete, the visitors embarked on an unsuccessful power play.
Goaltender Jack Ivankovic battled through crowds in front of his crease all night while facing an excessive amount of chances from the opposing power-play unit. He ended the night with 24 saves while shouldering his second loss of the campaign.
Next week, the Wolverines will travel east for a high-profile series against No. 3 Penn State next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 14-15) at Pegula Ice Arena. Puck drop for Friday night is scheduled for 7 p.m., while the second contest on Saturday is set to begin at 6 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
