The Wisconsin Badgers (5-3-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 7-3-0 overall) have a lot to be thankful for. So far the Badgers have gotten off to a strong start to the season and have been on a hot streak as of late, winning their last four games, including a sweep of rival North Dakota at home and last weekend's convincing wins on the road against a much improved Alaska-Anchorage team.
\We went up there with a very good attitude and an opportunity for us to win on the road,"" Head Coach Mike Eaves said. ""We hadn't done that this year. It didn't matter what system we were using, if it was a fore-check or zone coverage, we played as a unit of five and when you do that you take your game to another level.""
This weekend presents a great opportunity for the Badgers, who have a chance to see just how good they are with a matchup Saturday at home with the No. 2 team in the country, the Michigan Wolverines (7-1-0, 9-2-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association). Because Michigan is not in the WCHA, league points are not at stake in the contest. This gives Wisconsin the opportunity to lay it all on the line and go for broke in trying to upset the Wolverines.
""Obviously, it's a little special when you are ranked No. 2, you want to keep that rolling,"" junior forward Ryan MacMurchy said. ""We are definitely going to be geared up at the drop of the puck.""
However, upsetting Michigan will be no easy task. The Wolverines are extremely well coached. Head Coach Red Berenson is in his 21st season with Michigan compiling a 542-257-56 record. His Wolverines have not missed the NCAA tournament since 1990.
Along with great coaching, the Wolverines have arguably the best goaltender in the country in Al Montoya. Montoya, the 19-year-old junior from Glenview, Ill. passed up a huge professional contract offer to stay another season with the Wolverines. He has started every game so far for Michigan and owns a very strong 2.40 goals against average while stopping 90 percent of the shots he has faced.
""We've just got to keep on shooting,"" sophomore defenseman Jeff Likens said. ""If you keep shooting the puck will go in. I mean, it doesn't matter who the goalie is. Everybody has their off days and I'm not saying he's going to, but, we've just got to get the puck in the net.""
Offensively, Michigan is extremely potent and the team has several very talented veterans. T. J. Hensik, a sophomore, leads the Wolverines with 16 points, but the next six leading scoring forwards for Michigan are either juniors or seniors. These veterans are lead by Jeff Tambelini, an extremely talented 5'11"" junior, who has 14 points so far this season.
Another player to look for is team captain Eric Nystrom. Nystrom is the son of NHL great Bobby Nystrom and is a terrific leader for the Wolverines. Though off to a slow start offensively, he scored the game-winning goal last weekend, capping off a huge come-from-behind win over archrival Michigan State.
Michigan's defense is not quite as potent as in recent years, but with such a dynamic offense, scoring goals isn't really the priority for this group. Senior Eric Werner, who has 10 points so far, is the offensive spark plug on the red line, while fellow senior Brandon Rogers (47 points in the last two seasons) has assumed the strong defensive leader role.
The Michigan Wolverines will provide an excellent test for the young Badgers this weekend and the game should provide a measuring stick showing just how much progress Wisconsin has made so far this season.
""It is a very important weekend,"" Eaves said, ""because at the end of the year when they make the decisions about the national tournament, these games come into play. Good opponents always bring out the best you have.""
