ST. PAUL, Minn.—Senior goaltender Brian Elliott extended his UW career at least two more games by shutting out Michigan Tech Thursday to reach the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference semi-finals for the second consecutive season. His shutout was his fifth of the season and the 16th of his career, tying the WCHA record for career shutouts.
Senior forward and captain Andrew Joudrey gave the credit to his backstop, saying, ""To win in the playoffs you have to have great goaltending and Brian is the backbone of our team.""
The seniors were not the only players making big contributions. Freshman forward Blake Geoffrion scored the game winner only 1:45 into the first period of play. His second goal as a Badger put UW ahead 1-0 in a crucial spot of the single-elimination tournament. With the reliable play of Elliott, that was all UW would need.
The Wisconsin victory was payback for a humiliating regular season sweep in Houghton, MI, Feb. 23-24. In that series, the Badgers needed a strong showing in Michigan to have a chance of playing at home in the first round of the WCHA Tournament. Instead, the Badgers had to travel to Denver as a seven seed where they defeated the Pioneers in a road sweep.
The Badgers' struggling power play scored its first goal of the postseason at 2:42 into the second period when freshman forward Michael Davies bounced the puck off of Teslak's pad while sliding past the net. Assists were given to senior forward Jake Dowell and Joudrey.
Joudrey continued his leadership with a goal of his own 4:14 into the second to put the Badgers up 3-0. This time the assists went to junior defensmen Kyle Klubertanz and Joe Piskula.
Down by three, the game almost deteriorated into fighting after the Badgers managed to get several quality shots while shorthanded. The middle part of the third period featured a furious attack by Michigan Tech as it tried to get back into the game.
Michigan Tech was unable to generate any offense, however, and ended the game with 18 shots.
""That's the nature of the hockey team we are,"" explained Michigan Tech head coach Jamie Russell. ""We're not a team that is built to generate a lot of goals.""
Despite being snubbed again for the conference awards before the game, Elliott was clearly the winner of the day.
""He wins back-to-back goaltending titles in the WCHA [yet] still doesn't make the first team,"" explained a smiling Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves.
The third period was relatively uneventful, with sophomore forward Tom Gorowsky scoring his fifth goal of the season at 10:12 to seal the game at 4-0. In the third, Michigan Tech managed eight shots but was unable to get by the spectacular Elliott.
The Badgers will face the No. 1 seed Minnesota at 7:07 p.m. Friday in St. Paul, Minn. The winner of that game will go on to the WCHA Championship at the same time Saturday to face the winner of the semifinal matchup between the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the St. Cloud State Huskies.
