It was a roller coaster weekend for the No. 2 Wisconsin men's hockey team (7-3-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 10-4-0 overall) in the College Hockey Showcase. After a lackluster performance resulted in a 4-0 loss Friday to Michigan State (3-5-0 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, 6-7-1), the Badgers responded with a definitive 3-1 victory over No. 1 Michigan on Saturday.
\It speaks to the quality of guys in the locker room. It speaks to the leadership, and I couldn't be more happy for the boys,"" Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves said after Friday's game. ""One of the more enjoyable things to watch is a group respond like that.""
It looked as though the Badgers suffered from a turkey hangover Friday. They were never able to get anything going on the ice. Couple the lack of intensity with a disappointing performance by sophomore goalie Brian Elliott and the result was an embarrassing shutout at the Kohl Center.
Elliott gave up three goals while stopping just nine shots before being replaced by senior goalie Bernd Br??ckler.
Saturday's game was to feature the top two teams in the country in a showdown at the Kohl Center. However, the significance was diminished as both Wisconsin and Michigan lost Friday. The game turned into a battle focusing on which team would respond better to losing.
The Badgers were not about to come out flat again. They dictated the tempo throughout the game and used two special-teams goals in the second period to salvage a weekend split.
""We knew that we could play better than we did last night. It was a lot of focus and a lot of intensity tonight,"" sophomore forward Jake Dowell said.
Despite a period of more than five straight minutes of power play early in the first period, the Badgers were unable to capitalize. They would however score later in the period, but would give a goal up late in the period.
In the second period, the Badgers took advantage of special teams chances as they have done all season. Coming into Saturday's game the Badgers were successful on 22 percent of their power play opportunities while stopping nearly 90 percent of their opponents' power plays.
It was the same story again against Michigan as they stopped all five of the Wolverines' power plays. Furthermore they scored both on a power play and when they were shorthanded.
""I think we just had a great attention to detail on the kills tonight,"" sophomore forward Andrew Joudrey said. ""It was the intensity and the blocked shots that enabled us to get that done.""
Junior captain Adam Burish took advantage of a crisp pass from sophomore defenseman Jeff Likens on a power play midway through the period to give the Badgers a 2-1 lead.
Minutes later, with Michigan on a power play, Joudrey blazed a shot past Michigan junior goalie Al Montoya to stretch the lead to two goals.
Br??ckler started in net Saturday, making 23 saves while giving up just one goal in the win.
The teams played through a scoreless final 20 minutes to take down the No. 1 team in the country.
Minnesota was the big winner on the weekend, stomping both Michigan and Michigan State, and should take over the No. 1 ranking this week.
