The No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers (2-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 4-0-0 overall) scored 10 or more goals for the second straight weekend, a feat which had not been accomplished since 1991, and sophomore goalie Brian Elliott earned his second shutout in as many starts as the Badgers opened their WCHA season with a sweep of Michigan Tech (0-4-0, 0-4-0). Winning 7-3 Friday and 3-0 Saturday, the team earned four league points.
\We did a lot of good things this weekend,"" Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves said. ""You always strive for perfection, and it's [not always] within your grasp, but it's always fun to try and get there.""
Freshman Joe Pavelski led the Badgers with one goal and one assist in each game. He has tallied two points in each of the first four games of his young career. He now leads the Badgers with eight points this season.
The Badgers trailed 2-0 after the first period Friday for the second straight week, but rallied with four goals in the second period.
""We went in the locker room, and there was not a lot of panic because we know we have that offensive power, junior assistant captain Tom Gilbert said. ""We came out of the second period flying.""
Just 12 seconds into the period, the Badgers took advantage of a Michigan Tech turnover behind its own net, and sophomore forward Nick Licari got the Badgers back within one goal. They tied the game less than two minutes later when freshman defenseman Kyle Klubertanz got his first goal of the season on a power play.
Junior forward A.J. Degenhardt gave Wisconsin its first lead of the game at 13:16 of the period. Junior captain forward Adam Burish followed suit minutes later, netting a short-handed goal which would eventually be the game-winner.
Michigan Tech scored late in the period, but the Badgers added three more goals in the third period to skate away with a four-goal victory.
After senior goalie Cam Ellsworth gave up seven goals Friday, Michigan Tech Head gave sophomore goalie Bryce Luker a shot Saturday. Eaves decided to give the starting nod to Elliott over senior All-American Bernd Br??ckler Saturday.
Luker did well in net, making 43 saves, but could not get any help on offense as Michigan Tech mustered just 13 shots on net in 60 minutes.
Sophomore defenseman Jeff Likens got his first goal of the season less than seven minutes into the game and Pavelski added another just minutes later.
Junior forward Ryan MacMurchy, Wisconsin's leading returning scorer, got his first goal of the season midway through the second period.
The two teams played a scoreless third period with the Huskies putting just one shot on net. Coincidentally, that shot came from the opposite end of the ice.
""I bet Tom Gilbert had more saves than me in the third period, he blocked so many shots,"" Elliott said. ""I think it was a team shutout rather than my shutout, because we all played great tonight and it showed.""
The Badgers dominated the Huskies on offense, outshooting them 89-30 over the span of two games.
The Badgers will look to continue their WCHA success when they host defending national champions Denver this weekend.
