'Difference-maker of captain' doesn't let Wisconsin men's hockey lose: 3 takeaways

The University of Wisconsin men's hockey team had to do things the hard way Friday at No. 18 Penn State but it emerged with a victory.

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Defenseman Daniel Laatsch scored on an end-to-end rush in overtime for a 5-4 triumph that extended Wisconsin's winning streak against the Nittany Lions to six games for the first time in the 54-game history between the teams.

Scoring three goals in regulation for the first time this season wasn't enough for the Badgers. Nor was scoring four times. Laatsch took matters into his own hands 3 minutes, 48 seconds into the extra session and scored his second overtime goal.

"Danny Laatsch comes out of it with the game-winner, five blocked shots, two shots and he's plus-3," Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings said. "That's a difference-maker of a captain."

The Badgers (3-8, 2-5 Big Ten, 8 points) won for the 20th straight time when leading by two goals or more after the second period but it was a struggle after Penn State's Danny Dzhaniyev scored on a 6-on-4 advantage with 50.6 seconds left to force overtime.

3rd-period goals brought Penn State back

Goalie Tommy Scarfone returned to the Badgers' crease after he missed last week's series against Minnesota with a lower-body injury suffered in practice. But he allowed goals on the first two shots he faced in the third period — by Charlie Cerrato and Ben Schoen — as Penn State (4-4, 0-3, 1 point) quickly made it 3-3.

Referees said video replay of Cerrato's goal was inconclusive and Wisconsin lost the challenge. The Badgers thought Cerrato used a kicking motion to direct a JJ Wiebusch pass into the net but video wasn't clear whether the puck also hit Cerrato's stick.

Wisconsin got rid of its lengthy scoring skid

Cody Laskosky's goal on a 3-on-2 rush in the second period had to lift some weight off the Badgers. It put them ahead 3-1, marking the first time in 11 games this season they scored more than two goals in regulation.

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The 10 consecutive games without reaching the three-goal mark in regulation was the longest stretch in a single season in Wisconsin's 62-year modern era.

"For us to be able to go on the road and find a way to score that many goals, hopefully that's something we can put behind us and learn from," Hastings said.

Sawyer Scholl makes an impact

Sawyer Scholl scored to put the Badgers ahead 2-1 in the second period and assisted on Laskosky's goal. He also started the play that led to Ryan Botterill's go-ahead goal in the third.

Scholl didn't have a point in the nine games he played this season entering Friday and recorded a career high with three points and only his second multiple-point game in 43 appearances for the Badgers.

Three stars

No. 3: Aiden Fink, Penn State. The former Badgers recruit had a goal and an assist.

No. 2: Sawyer Scholl, Wisconsin. A goal and two assists for the sophomore fourth-liner.

No. 1: Daniel Laatsch, Wisconsin. This one would have been a crusher for the Badgers to lose but Laatsch gave it a different ending.