MADISON ― Before this weekend, the Michigan hockey team was confident in its special teams.

It had successfully killed off 25 straight power-play chances, a streak that didn't end until Minnesota scored on a 2-man advantage in the second period of Michigan's 6-3 win Friday.

But in the Wolverines' 3-0 loss to Wisconsin the next night, the power-play and penalty-killing units proved ineffective.

The Wolverines gave Wisconsin nine opportunities on the man advantage and it converted twice.

Badger forward Michael Davies opened the scoring three minutes into the third period off a rebound from goaltender Billy Sauer. The senior stopped a rocket from Wisconsin defenseman Brandon Smith from the left circle, but Saure came too far out of the crease and had no chance to save the shot off the rebound.

The Badgers added another tally on the man advantage later in the frame.

“I can’t tell you we played poorly, I can’t tell you we played well,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said. “We just didn’t look like a sharp team. You can only kill so many penalties. Sooner or later, it catches up with you.”

The Wolverines' penalty kill started strong, giving up just three shots in the first four Badger power plays.

But then the system broke down. Michigan’s special teams looked exhausted on the ice, failed to clear pucks and over-chased forwards, getting out of position. As a result, it was difficult for the Wolverines to get any offensive rhythm.

“We have about six or seven forwards who kill penalties and it’s the other five or six forwards who get out of the game,” Berenson said. “They’re sitting there minute after minute after minute and then you get out there and you feel like you haven’t even played.”

The penalties enabled the Badgers to control the second and third periods, and Wisconsin eventually totaled 30 shots on goal ― 11 more than Michigan.

With the man advantage, Michigan tallied just two shots on goal in its three attempts and the unit looked worse as the game progressed.

In Michigan's final power play of the game, Wisconsin easily cleared pucks from danger and the Wolverines were unable to set up any offense.

“Its hard to win a game when you have to play PK almost half the time,” sophomore forward Carl Hagelin said. “Our PP really didn’t get it going tonight. Just like Coach said, it was a special teams game tonight. They had two PP goals tonight and we had zero, and that’s the bottom line.”

The night before against Minnesota, Michigan again had three power play opportunities and failed to convert. With six even-strength goals, it wasn’t as critical to capitalize.

But when special-teams units were on the ice for 24 of 60 minutes Saturday, it became crucial to score.

“It's hard to get on a roll, especially when you're in the box for the whole second period and part of the third,” junior acting captain Chris Summers said. “To get any type of offensive chances, you're going to have to be five-on-five. That kind of helped them with momentum.”