MADISON, Wis. — A look at Clark Cristofoli’s collegiate resume gives you a good idea why it took until the 10th round of a shootout for the Ohio State defenseman to get the call on Friday.
Cristofoli has played in just 40 games in nearly four seasons with the Buckeyes, with one goal to his name.
A look at his shootout attempt suggested otherwise. He stuffed the puck past Wisconsin’s Landon Peterson to end a marathon shootout and give the Buckeyes the extra Big Ten point after a 2-2 tie with the Badgers.
“I wasn’t really expecting to go, but once I heard my name I just jumped out there right away,” Cristofoli said. “I was really excited.”
As for what he had planned on the 20th attempt of the shootout?
“I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do,” said Cristofoli, who scored his only collegiate goal against Wisconsin in last season’s Big Ten championship game. “I just kind of went with it and saw he was out a little far and just decided to deke.”
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In reality, the shootout result meant little to either team. Ohio State (12-18-3, 7-11-1-1 Big Ten) is locked into a fifth-place finish, and Wisconsin (4-24-5, 2-14-3-2) will finish sixth after Saturday’s final regular season game.
The Buckeyes, however, got a measure of consolation after twice losing a one-goal lead on Brad Navin goals for Wisconsin. The Badgers co-captain tied the game for good with 3:57 remaining in regulation.
“There’s a lot better feeling in the locker room after a win like that,” Buckeyes coach Steve Rohlik said.
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And both teams got a taste of the tight postseason games that are ahead next weekend.
“That was a playoff game right there,” Cristofoli said.
Middleton, Wis., native Tyler Lundey gave the Buckeyes a 1-0 lead in the second period, and Ohio State’s Matthew Weis scored in the third for a 2-1 lead.
Navin responded for the Badgers each time for his first multiple-goal game in 139 collegiate outings.
“A blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then,” Navin said.
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Making his fourth start of the season and second in a row, Badgers senior Landon Peterson stopped 32 shots, 22 in the first 40 minutes when the Buckeyes out-attempted the Badgers 51-24.
“We had guys that didn’t show up until halfway through the game, and that really hurt us,” Navin said. “Props to Landon for keeping us in the game and giving us a chance.”
Navin’s first goal ended a Wisconsin scoring drought at 183:44. The Badgers were shut out in both games at Michigan State last weekend.
Their two goals Friday matched their combined total of the previous five games, a stretch in which they were blanked four times.
Badgers’ leading scorer Grant Besse missed a second straight game with leg injury.
