The fourth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers entered this weekend's series against the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks looking to stay on the inside track on the road to the Frozen Four and establish momentum going into the final month of the regular season. Mission accomplished.
The Badgers were in total control in both games, sweeping the Mavericks by scores of 3-0 and 7-2. Even though MSU had never beaten UW prior to this series (0-21-1 head-to-head entering this weekend) it was clear from the git-go the Badgers were not going to take them lightly.
\Every game right now you approach sort of like a playoff game,"" UW head coach Mark Johnson said. ""If we win a bunch of games down the stretch here we're right where we want to be at the end. Every game is crucial when you get into February and the early part of March, so the big thing is just to continue to do what we've done all year.""
The Badgers got things rolling on Saturday by using a nasty combination of suffocating defense and potent offensive pressure to gain control of the game. But despite UW's large advantage in shots on goal and face-offs won, the Mavericks were able to keep the game tied late into the second period thanks to the stellar play of freshmen goalie Brittini Kehler. But UW kept the pressure on and was finally able to break through with 3:45 remaining in the second period with a power play goal by UW senior left-winger Jackie Friesen.
""Just keep putting shots on, eventually [Kehler]'s going to get tired, and things are going to go in,"" UW right-winger Lindsay Macy, who had an assist on the game-winning goal, said. ""We were getting shots and more shots. Eventually it will go in. Every goalie gets tired eventually.""
The Badgers were able to put the game away early in the final period when UW junior center Cyndy Kenyon scored an even-strength goal at the 1:41 mark. Lindsay Macy added another insurance goal on the power play for the final margin at 11:08.
On Sunday the Badgers were forced to deal with the absence of sophomore right-winger Meaghan Mikkelson and sophomore defender Bobbi-Jo Slusar who were competing with the Canadian under-22 team. But that did not seem to hinder the Badgers in the slightest bit as they thrashed the Mavericks 7-2.
""The big strength of our team is depth, so when we take one person out of the equation we have so many people to fall back on,"" Kenyon said. ""We have enough players that can step in there and play.""
UW was able to get on the board at 9:15 in the first period when freshman left-winger Jinelle Zaugg took a pass from senior defender Molly Engstrom into the MSU zone and snapped a wrist shot over the left shoulder of the Maverick sophomore goalie Laura Brennan. One and a half minutes later Jackie Friesen scored on the power play and the rout was on.
The sweep improved the Badgers record to 14-7-1 in the WCHA and 20-7-1 overall. UW will conclude their final home stand of the season this Friday and Saturday versus Ohio State. Both games will be played at the Kohl Center with the face-off at 7:05 p.m.
