After three strong performances in row, which include a dominating two-game sweep at home over nemesis Alaska Anchorage, the ninth- ranked Wisconsin Men's Hockey Team (4-1-1, 3-0-1 WCHA) will try to ride its recent momentum into a huge early series at Grand Forks against last year's NCAA Runners Up, the fifth-ranked Dakota Fighting Sioux (5-2-1, 1-1 WCHA).
Thanks to the unbalanced schedule of the WCHA, this is Wisconsin's only series with North Dakota, which is unfortunate because Wisconsin has owned the Sioux on Kohl Center ice, grabbing four huge wins against them over the past two seasons. But, without a match up at home, Wisconsin will have to try to figure out the Sioux at the luxurious 11,500 seat Englestad Arena where North Dakota has recently dominated the Badgers. Englestad features a NHL-sized rink, which is considerably smaller than any of the rinks Wisconsin has played in so far. Captain Adam Burish says he feels Wisconsin has a team that should compete less on smaller ice.
'Our guys love playing in a smaller rink. We feel we have a big physical team that loves to battle and grind it out,' Burish said.
In recent years, North Dakota has featured a team ideally suited for the smaller rink with several punishing defenseman. Three of these big bodies'Matt Jones, Matt Greene and former captain Andy Schnieder'have either graduated or left early, leaving a void that is being filled by a young defensive corps. North Dakota still has 6'5' 200 lbs. defenseman Matt Smaby, and coach Dave Hakstol has found a two-way gem on the point in Brian Lee.
'North Dakota has a really young team with a lot of freshman, but a lot of those freshman are very highly touted and very good,' Wisconsin defenseman Jeff Likens said.
Offensively North Dakota is just formidable as ever. Two newcomers, T. J. Oshie (three goals-six assits-nine points) and Jonathan Towers lead the team in scoring, but perhaps North Dakota's most dangerous offensive threats are junior Drew Stafford and sophomore Travis Zajac. Zajac is off to a slow start, but last year he piled up twenty goals in an outstanding freshman campaign.
'Zajac and Stafford especially are two guys that are highly skilled ... you have to be aware of when they're on the ice,' Burish said.
Hakstol is riding a very hot hand in goaltender Jordan Parise, who is unbeaten in five starts and features a sparkling 1.18 goals against average and a spectacular .960 save percentage. Parise was awesome down the stretch run last year, and has continued fantastic play into this year. Parise was especially good in a three-point weekend at New Hampshire.
Wisconsin will counter North Dakota with some strong offense of their own. Sophomore Joe Pavelski and junior Robbie Earl (each with eight points) lead the Badger's balanced attack, which has put up three strong performances in row. Consistent high level of play has been a key for Wisconsin this season, according to Likens.
'We've been trying become a very consistent team in the things we do in practice and during games,' said Likens. 'We want to keep that high level where we keep working hard and playing well,' Likens said.
