The No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers lost in regulation to the No. 6 Michigan State Spartans on Friday night, allowing the Spartans to clinch an outright conference title and propelling them to the one-seed in the Big Ten tournament.
Wisconsin (25-9-2 overall, 16-7-1 B1G) bucked their recent tendency to start slow when junior defenseman Daniel Laatsch beat goaltender Trey Augustine on a soft wrister to take the lead in the opening minute.
Michigan State (22-9-3 overall, 16-6-2 B1G) returned the favor minutes later, firing a shot from distance that senior goaltender Kyle McClellan misplayed to allow the equalizer.