Wisconsin uses three-goal second period to upset No. 2 MichiganMark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal SentinelSat, February 21, 2026 at 3:33 AM UTC·1 min readMADISON – It had been a while since the Wisconsin men’s hockey team had a statement win.
Then Michigan came to town.
The Wolverines entered the weekend ranked No. 2 in the nation, but Friday, Feb. 20 they were the second-best team on the ice as Wisconsin scored a 3-1 victory. It was the Badgers' first ranked win since it completed a sweep of then No. 1 Michigan State on Nov. 22.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWisconsin scored all its goals during a 9 ½-minute span in the second period. Freshman Vasily Zelenov scored the game-winner at the 8-minute 51-second mark. Sophomore Adam Pietila added some insurance for UW with the team's third goal of the night at the 16:48 mark.
Overall seven Badgers score a point. Freshman Grady Deering (two assists) and senior Jack Horbach, who scored an empty net goal during the final 2 minutes, had two points nights.
Junior Quinn Finley tied the game at the 7:25 mark with his team-leading 15th goal of the season.
Sophomore goaltender Eli Pulver, who started in place of David Hauser (upper body), finished with 22 saves and didn’t allow a goal during the final two periods.
Check jsonline later for more on the game.
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy (11) jumps to avoid the puck during the Badgers' game against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Grady Deering controls the puck against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Tyson Dyck beats Notre Dame's Danny Nelson to the puck at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Ben Dexheimer skates away from Notre Dame's Cole Brown at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Weston Knox prepares to take a shot as Notre Dame's Jaedon Kerr defends at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy controls the puck as he prepares to take a shot against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy controls the puck as he prepares to take a shot against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Gavin Morrissey prepares for a faceoff against Notre Dame's Cole Knuble during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Gavin Morrissey defends as Notre Dame's Alex Kumlin attempts to make a pass during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsin's Christian Fitzgerald keeps his balance in time to take a shot against Notre Dame goalie Nicholas Kempf at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.
Wisconsins's Quinn Finley celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame Friday Feb. 6, 2026 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin's Luke Osburn clears the puck after goalie Daniel Hauser makes a save during overtime against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026. The play led to Quinn Finley's game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime win.
Wisconsins's Quinn Finley celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame Friday Feb. 6, 2026 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
The Wisconsin hockey players mob Quinn Finley in front of the student section after he scored the game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.1 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy (11) jumps to avoid the puck during the Badgers' game against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.1 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy (11) jumps to avoid the puck during the Badgers' game against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.2 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Grady Deering controls the puck against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.3 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Tyson Dyck beats Notre Dame's Danny Nelson to the puck at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.4 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Ben Dexheimer skates away from Notre Dame's Cole Brown at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.5 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Weston Knox prepares to take a shot as Notre Dame's Jaedon Kerr defends at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.6 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy controls the puck as he prepares to take a shot against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.7 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Simon Tassy controls the puck as he prepares to take a shot against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.8 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Gavin Morrissey prepares for a faceoff against Notre Dame's Cole Knuble during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.9 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Gavin Morrissey defends as Notre Dame's Alex Kumlin attempts to make a pass during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.10 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Christian Fitzgerald keeps his balance in time to take a shot against Notre Dame goalie Nicholas Kempf at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.11 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsins's Quinn Finley celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame Friday Feb. 6, 2026 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.12 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsin's Luke Osburn clears the puck after goalie Daniel Hauser makes a save during overtime against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026. The play led to Quinn Finley's game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime win.13 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
Wisconsins's Quinn Finley celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame Friday Feb. 6, 2026 at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.14 / 14Wisconsin men's hockey snaps six-game skid with OT over Notre Dame
The Wisconsin hockey players mob Quinn Finley in front of the student section after he scored the game-winning goal in a 6-5 overtime victory over Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. on Friday Feb. 6, 2026.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin men's hockey uses three goal second period to upset Michigan
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