A resilient third-period performance from the Penn State Nittany Lions saw them overturn a deficit to defeat Blake Montgomery and his Wisconsin teammates 3-1. Despite a disciplined start from the No. 5 ranked Badgers, the No. 8 Nittany Lions found their clinical edge in the final frame to leave the Madison crowd of over 13,000 frustrated.
Wisconsin seized the early momentum 6:50 into the first period while killing a penalty. Montgomery and Tyson Dyck combined to set up Christian Fitzgerald, who fired home a clinical short-handed goal to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. It was a milestone moment for Fitzgerald, marking his first career short-handed tally in a Badgers uniform.
Neither side could find a breakthrough in a cagey second period, as goaltenders at both ends stood firm to keep the scoreline unchanged heading into the final twenty minutes. Wisconsin appeared to have extended their lead late in the frame, but the goal was ultimately chalked off following a successful Penn State challenge for goaltender interference.
The Nittany Lions finally broke Wisconsin's resistance 4:54 into the third period when J.J. Wiebusch found the equalizer. Penn State then seized the lead at 13:08 as Reese Laubach capitalized on a defensive opening to make it 2-1. With the Badgers pushing for a late leveler, Gavin McKenna—fresh off a four-point weekend—sealed the 3-1 victory with an empty-net goal at 19:07.
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