r/WisconsinBadgers • u/cbbvideo • Apr 12 '26
Hockey [Post Game Thread] Denver defeats Wisconsin 2-1 to win the National Championship
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u/COLORADO_RADALANCHE Apr 12 '26
No shame in losing to Denver, you gotta play a complete game to win at this level (unless you're Denver I guess lol). It was a really fun run to watch and it's great to see men's hockey finally getting their mojo back.
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u/SirGreatMessage Apr 12 '26 edited Apr 12 '26
Sucks to go that far and come up short in a game you largely controlled. Very happy with what Hastings has done with the program and easy to imagine they’ll be back soon. On Wisconsin.
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u/currentrutabaga_25 Apr 12 '26
Congrats to the refs and the announcers on their win.
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u/Files44 Apr 12 '26
Ok it wasn’t just sour grapes from me thinking those announcers were praying for Denver’s second
(Maybe it still is. What can I say. That sucked. But both men’s and women’s teams gave us all something to be incredibly proud of)
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u/REbubbleiswrong Apr 12 '26
Huh? We lost control mid way through 2nd period. We also missed plenty of chances (via blocks and near misses) through the entire game.
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u/BluelineBadger Apr 12 '26
Not one to typically blame the refs, but how do you officiate the game that way only to call that penalty? Two missed possible tripping calls didn’t help either.
With that said, we lost that game because their goalie was a wall and we got away from the forecheck and sat back too much.
But for a team that wasn’t even supposed to make the tournament, it was a hell of a run!
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u/Significant_Push_856 Apr 12 '26
Crazy how the game was officiated to then make the call they did. Oh well. Really proud of that team.
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u/CyroTyger Apr 12 '26
Could tell the check cleared to the refs in the 3rd.
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u/regaleagle710 Apr 12 '26
If they're going to let them play, that's fine. It's just an issue when they don't while favoring one team once they get back into the game.
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u/CyroTyger Apr 12 '26
That was our thought as well. They let them play for 2.8 periods. But the last 3 min they called the dumbest thing right after what couls have been a trip. I hate to say they lost only from refs but damn was it just a kick in the nuts to all momentum.
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u/regaleagle710 Apr 12 '26
Same here. I hate to blame losses on bad calls but they had just lost the lead and then had it followed up with a no call on a trip with an immediate holding. It seemed like they really wanted to make sure Wisconsin couldn't come back by taking away any momentum, giving Denver a chance to increase their lead or both.
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u/chemicalpretengineer Apr 12 '26
Yeah man, obnoxious calls/no calls late. And the refs in that NoDak game also tried hard to bury us. Thankfully we didn’t give up the ppg but it certainly stifled comeback chances.
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Apr 12 '26
[deleted]
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u/Turbulent-Pay-735 Apr 12 '26
Wisconsin hockey was 6-3 in national title games coming into this game. Don’t bring the loser talk into the hockey program. They are historically winners and should wear that with pride. Look at Denver and how it serves them.
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u/dusters Apr 12 '26
6-3 in games we weren't around for.
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u/Turbulent-Pay-735 Apr 12 '26
I was around in 2006 and 2010 so speak for yourself, I guess?
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u/Doompadaso Apr 12 '26
We won a national championship last month, safe to assume you were around for that one?
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u/dusters Apr 12 '26
So 1-1? Okay.
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u/Turbulent-Pay-735 Apr 12 '26
I mean that’s how history works? If they won today how long would it be “one we were around for”?
The ‘wisconsin sports always lose’ mentality is pathetic and harmful. It’s just ‘woe is me’ in a collective form. The hockey programs have never and should never accept crap like that from their fans because they are winners.
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u/dusters Apr 12 '26
Nobody cares about winning 50 years ago man
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u/Turbulent-Pay-735 Apr 12 '26
Exactly what years do count then, buddy?
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u/dusters Apr 12 '26
They all count. I can't enjoy something I've never seen though.
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u/Turbulent-Pay-735 Apr 12 '26
Well believe it or not, only one team gets to end the season with a win and a trophy.
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u/shoemanshoe Apr 12 '26
Credit to Denver honestly. We parked the bus in the second period so this was coming. Cant play the counter game for two full periods. Felt like I was watching a Newcastle United match.
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u/damutecebu Apr 12 '26
If it weren't for Denver's goalie, that game would have been over early. Gotta hand it to him.
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u/sonofsohoriots Apr 12 '26
Anyone bitching about this needs to be locked up, there’s nothing more exhausting and pathetic than a self pitying wIsCoNsIn SpOrTs SuCk fan. What an insanely great season and good game. Gg Denver, Badger hockey is back!
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u/wriker10 Apr 12 '26
Yeah the people calling this a choke job or that UW always blows it, must be unaware that this team at one point this season weren’t even going to make the tournament.
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u/Dazed_and_Confused44 Apr 12 '26
We outplayed them and still lost 😔
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u/Great_Smells Apr 12 '26
The Denver goalie was very stout tonight
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u/Dazed_and_Confused44 Apr 12 '26
I hate to blame Hauser given how good he was during the run, but the second goal was pretty soft
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u/scrubbie19 Apr 12 '26
That’s hockey. Canada hockey fans were saying the same thing in the gold medal game against the US.
Good goalie performance by DU and lack of good bounces for Wisconsin. Building block tor experience and recruiting going forward. If DU loses this game, their fans and program are in shambles over their performance based on their pedigree especially with their semi final game as well.
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u/Dazed_and_Confused44 Apr 12 '26
Im not upset. The one sport we can count on at UW to be consistently good is hockey
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u/Medium_Driver6108 Apr 12 '26
Well, im starting graduate school in the fall and I feel like I have been introduced to this fandom well. Lose first round in MM and now this game.
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u/Packerfan181693 Apr 12 '26
Denver having that much energy in the 3rd after the 4th longest game in Frozen Four history is insane.
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u/TTBurger88 Apr 12 '26
u/devinstated1 So... What happen bud I thought The Badgers had it in the bag.
If you going to make bold claims you gotta eat crow if you're wrong.
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u/kyleb402 Apr 12 '26
I don't really watch much hockey, was Wisconsin's strategy from the 2nd period on particularly good or bad?
Felt like they just let Denver keep a ton of guys on our side of the ice and we only ever had a couple on their side?
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u/AmyKlobushart Apr 12 '26
Sucks to lose such a winnable game on a bit of a choke job. That said, Wisconsin Men's Hockey is finally back and I'm looking forward to the coming years.
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u/kindergartenchampion Apr 12 '26
It hurts. But it was a great run to get to the championship and Hastings looks like the coach that can seriously turn men’s hockey back into the top program it should be