MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – The Lindenwood men's hockey team (0-1-0) dropped their season opener against No. 20 Wisconsin (1-0-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten) by a score of 3-0 on Friday night at Centene Community Ice Center.

Game Overview
In an unusual occurrence, the Lions started the game a man down after a player was charged with skating on the ice after the allotted pregame warmup time, incurring a two-minute bench minor. However, just 37 seconds into the game, Wisconsin was called for a penalty of their own, shortening Lindenwood's first penalty kill of the season. The Lions took a pair of shots on goal while on the shortened power play but were unable to find the target.

The Badgers went back on the power play at the 8:33 mark, and this time were able to convert with a Christian Fitzgerald goal assisted by Logan Henler and Oliver Tulk to go up 1-0.

Five different Lindenwood skaters combined for six shots in the period, while Klayton Knapp recorded ten saves.

The score remained 1-0 nearly 16 minutes into period two when coincidental unsportsmanlike penalties on Wisconsin's Luke Osburn and Lindenwood's Charles Savoie put each team at four skaters. Now with more open ice, the Badgers' Grady Deering was able to find the back of the net on a goal assisted by Joe Palodichuk and Aiden Dubinksy.

LU had two power play opportunities in the period but were only able to muster one shot on goal across their four minutes with the man advantage. The Lions took seven shots in the period compared to 11 for the Badgers. Meanwhile, Klayton Knapp collected ten more saves in the period.

The deficit remained at two in the game's dwindling moments before Wisconsin scored on an empty net with 14 seconds remaining to make the score 3-0. Lindenwood went on the power play twice more in the third period but were unable to convert either opportunity for a score.

Klayton Knapp recorded 10 more saves in the period, bringing his total to 30 for the night.

Drew Kuzma led the Lions with five shots, as 11 different LU skaters combined for 22 shots in the game.

Lindenwood won 31 faceoffs compared to 28 for Wisconsin. Giovanni Morneau led Lindenwood with 12 faceoffs won.

Wisconsin went 1-4 on the power play while Lindenwood went 0-6.

Next Up
The Lions and Badgers meet again on Saturday night at 7:10 p.m.