Trailing 3-0 halfway through the third period, the Wisconsin men's hockey team erupted for a trio of goals in less than three minutes to draw even with Northern Michigan in an eventual 3-3 tie Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
Even with the Badgers' backs against the wall heading into the final period of regulation, head coach Mike Eaves maintained that the only the thing his squad had coming out of the locker room was a game plan.
"The mindset that we wanted to have was 'we're down three to nothing, and we need to focus on what we need to do.' That's go out there and get the first goal, and try to build momentum and get momentum on our side and then see what happens," Eaves said. "Not think about the fact that we were down three to nothing, but the fact of what we had to do. That's exactly what happened."
It took some time, but the Badgers (0-0-2) stuck to that mantra. Wisconsin outshot the Wildcats (0-0-2) through the first two periods, but in the third the Badgers upped the pressure.
After an early barrage of chances to start the frame, the Badgers finally solved NMU goaltender Atte Tolvanen on their fourth power-play opportunity of the contest. Wisconsin sophomore Ryan Wagner found a rebound opportunity to the left of the crease and tipped it past Tolvanen while falling to the ground to cut the deficit to 3-1 with 10:39 left in the period.
The rest fell into place after the first goal. Just 49 seconds after Wagner scored, Jedd Soleway ripped a slap shot past Tolvanen to bring the deficit within one. It was the first point of the season for Soleway, who had seven goals a year ago.
With momentum building, Wisconsin took advantage of a golden opportunity and tied the score at three. Sophomore Adam Rockwood helped create that opportunity by drawing a pair of penalties, both coming on the same sequence. Rockwood initially got held in the offensive zone, then moments later Rockwood got tripped while chasing the puck to give the Badgers a five-on-three power play.
On the ensuing man advantage, Grant Besse set freshman Luke Kunin up on a one-timer. Kunin promptly buzzed a slap shot past the glove hand of Tolvanen to knot the score at three.
"He sure doesn't play like a freshman. He's just a bull physically, he's an old soul mentally and emotionally," Eaves said. "He excelled in high school and he's here as a young man, and he already has great habits.
"He physically understands how to win battles and he's got a gift of a shot. He doesn't play as a normal freshman."
Wisconsin kept the pressure squarely on Northern Michigan for the remainder of the final period, but couldn't break through for the game-winning goal. That sent the game to overtime for the second-straight night, where it would end in a draw once again.
That certainly didn't take away from the Badgers' comeback, which was the first time since Nov. 1, 2013 that they had climbed out of a three-goal deficit to tie a game. It helped that the Badgers had the most shots in a game since they had 45 against UAH on Dec. 28, 2013. They finished with a 44-25 advantage in shots on goal.
"All the guys just rallied around there in the locker room and were ready to come out in the third to come back and I think that's the kind of group we have. We're never quitting no matter what the score is."
Wisconsin outshot NMU 20-5 in the third period, and freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik (22 saves) stopped everything he faces in the period to keep the score knotted at three.
The Badgers are on the road next weekend, traveling to top-ranked Boston College next Friday night and then No. 2 Boston University next Saturday night. Both games begin at 6 p.m. CT.
