Michigan’s hockey team let three pivotal Big Ten points slip away Friday at Wisconsin. The 10th-ranked Wolverines allowed three unanswered goals, including two in the final six minutes, in a 5-4 loss to open a two-game weekend series.

The Badgers and Wolverines wrapped up their regular series season with a tie before Michigan won a shootout. Check out our best photos.

Wisconsin held Nebraska to its lowest point total (55) since a Dec. 7 loss to Michigan State (52). That performance raised the Badgers’ KenPom defensive efficiency ranking to No. 50 nationally, the highest it’s been all season. That pushed the team’s overall ranking to No. 14.

Wisconsin is back on the court on Wednesday on the road at Maryland (KenPom No. 21). Another signature victory could send the Badgers closer to KenPom’s top 10 and, more importantly, closer to the top of the Big Ten standings.

A victory in the final game of the series would have been more rewarding, but the resilient Badgers could find plenty of good signs from the weekend.

Taking five penalties compared to Wisconsin’s one, Michigan sealed its own fate, giving up two power play goals.

With one goal, Whitelaw left a bitter taste in Wisconsin’s mouth as they looked to retaliate — starting the puck battle for the night. Even with the early scoring start, the Badgers (11-12-2 overall, 6-9 Big Ten) pushed in the final minutes to win the scoring battle against the No. 10 Michigan (14-10-1, 8-7) hockey team, 5-4.

The Badgers will host one of their key events of the recruiting cycle Sunday when some of the top targets from the class of 2026 will be on campus.

Christian Fitzgerald's second goal of the game gave the Badgers the lead late as they rallied past the 10th-ranked Wolverines.

"We're a growth program. We've got a long way to go," Dusty May said of Michigan basketball. A look where Wolverines stand in NCAA tournament picture.

The Wolverines are in the hunt for one of the highest-ranked interior offensive lineman in the 2026 recruiting