The No. 5 Wisconsin Badgers battled the top-ranked Colorado College Tigers played to a hard-fought 2-2 tie Friday night, but Saturday, Wisconsin rode the energy of their first sold-out home crowd of the season and posted a 3-0 shutout victory.
On Saturday, Wisconsin kept up its recent trend of getting out to fast starts, scoring two goals in the first 1:28 of the game. Just 17 seconds into the contest, Badger captain Adam Burish took a centering feed from junior Robbie Earl, spun around and buried a shot past the surprised CC goaltender Matt Zaba. Junior Ross Carlson made it 2-0 just 79 seconds later, when he created a turnover and then shelved a backhand up over top of Zaba. Colorado College Head Coach Scott Owens was impressed with the Badger's fast start.
'[Wisconsin] came out with unbelievable energy,' Owens said. 'We knew they were going to come out with that kind of intensity, but they kind of steam rolled us a bit.'
Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves was just as impressed.
'We were tremendous early and we jumped on [CC], and that was the difference in the game,' Eaves said.
The rest of the game was a penalty-filled affair, with the two teams combining for 76 minutes in penalties and 16 power plays. Starting the third period, Wisconsin had to weather one minute and 40 seconds of a five-on-three power play for Colorado College, but Wisconsin goaltender Brian Elliott and the Badger defense were up to the challenge.
'Elliott played phenomenal tonight; when he's making big saves it just gives us more confidence to play good defense,' senior defenseman Tom Gilbert said.
Elliott, who recorded his first shutout of the season in the victory, was quick to return praise for his defense.
'I have been close all year [to getting a shutout] ... but tonight we all played a solid game, and the guys in front of me played great,' Elliott said.
Wisconsin scored just one power play goal, converting one out of 10 power plays in the game, but the goal they did get was a big one. Sophomore Joe Pavelski took a cross-ice pass from senior defenseman Tom Gilbert and shot the puck passed Zaba with just six minutes left to seal the win.
The victory, however, was overshadowed a little by a late hit along the boards by Burish on Tiger forward Scott Thauwald. A scrum ensued as the Tigers quickly came to the defense of Thauwald, a gritty player that had just returned back to action after major rehab for a knee injury. Burish was assessed a five minute major for the play, along with a game disqualification, which carries an automatic one game suspension. CC assistant captain Brett Sterling was visibly upset with the play.
'It was a bad hit. They need to take a look at it and review it,' Sterling said. 'It was a clean, physical series up until that last play.'
Friday night's game was a tenacious affair that saw Colorado College stake a quick two-goal load on goals by seniors Brett Sterling and Joey Crabb. Wisconsin scored a huge goal late in the period, as Gilbert jumped out of the penalty box and received a long saucer pass from junior Jake Dowell. Gilbert corralled the bouncing puck and skated in alone on a break away and buried a hard shot low past Zaba.
Freshman Jack Skille tied the game at two with a power play goal in the second period. Skille, falling backward managed to lift a shot up and over a sprawling Zaba.
Wisconsin, now riding an eight-game unbeaten streak, will try to keep the momentum going next weekend when they play host to Minnesota State.
