Wisconsin hockey had an eventful home-opening weekend that included a proud rising of the National Championship banner, and a challenging 1-1 split with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Now, it's back to business as another WCHA opponent comes to town, the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs went 11-25-4 last season, but with their quick 2-0-1 start, senior Wisconsin goalie Brian Elliott knows that last season does not tell the Bulldogs' entire story.
""They were a young team last year, and have gotten a little bit older,"" Elliot said. ""They are a fast team and can put some pucks in the net. We will have to be good defensively and hope to finish offensively. It's going to be the same as last week, but we know they are going to be fast.""
The Bulldogs are led by a group of up-and-coming underclassmen which includes sophomore defenseman Matt Niskanen, the team's point leader, sophomore center MacGregor Sharp, the team's goal leader and starting freshman goaltender, Alex Stalock. Minnesota-Duluth is fighting against the trend that much of the WCHA is currently facing: The Bulldogs are young but have already been subject to a great deal of playing experience.
At Monday's press conference, head coach Mike Eaves discussed some other elements that the Badgers need to watch out for in this weekend's series.
""I like their talent up front,"" Eaves said. ""I think they have some big kids that can skate, they demonstrated last year some ability to be offensive, so I think that's why we as a coaching staff feel that way. They've got a young goaltender going there, [he] has kind of established himself. But up front, they have some ability, and that's why I think when you're looking for difference-makers in the game, I think they have a handful of them.""
Last weekend's intense series against North Dakota told the Badgers a lot about their team, and that experience will be used as a learning experience for weeks to come. Brian Elliott had a very optimistic feeling after Saturday's crucial 1-0 win following a Friday night overtime loss.
""It was huge,"" Elliott said. ""If we didn't come back, guys would be feeling sorry for themselves and some of the young guys haven't felt that losing and then trying to get back into a series-- especially against North Dakota who we knew was going to be a really good team, winning the way we did with the players that we had in the lineup, seven freshmen. I think it says a lot about our team and a lot about our older guys just preparing the younger guys for what they were going to see.""
Senior forward Andrew Joudrey was also very impressed with how the Badgers dealt with multiple injuries.
""To be able to get that done against North Dakota with the lineup we had, I'm not taking away from it but when you are missing two of your top guys, it's an issue,"" Joudrey said. ""We know we can get the job done with the lineup that we do have. It is definitely something that we can build on. Not to get complacent though, if we get down once we are going to keep pushing to get it done more and more.""
With one of the biggest matchups of the year against Boston College next weekend, the possibility for a letdown is possible for the Badgers, especially after such a difficult series against North Dakota. But the players and coaching staff are aware of this and seem prepared to steer away from that mindset as much as possible. Coach Eaves is confident it will not be a factor.
""I would be surprised [if we let down] because we are just starting to mold who we are,"" Eaves said. ""We still don't know who we are. So if [the players] think they've got something in their hands right now, they certainly don't. And we as a coaching staff certainly won't let that happen.""
We'll see if the Badgers can hold strong: They begin the series at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at the Kohl Center.
