Players on the Wisconsin men's hockey team believe, when they're collectively on top of their game, no team can defeat them.
And we understand if we don't play well, anybody can beat us,"" senior defenseman and captain Davis Drewiske said this week after practice. ""So it's a fine line.""
Not that the Badgers will be playing just any team - or, perhaps, teams - this weekend, when, for the 23rd time in school history and the fourth time in six years under head coach Mike Eaves, UW will be skating in the NCAA Tournament.
Given the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Regional bracket, the Badgers prepared this week to take on the Denver Pioneers, a familiar WCHA foe and winner of the WCHA playoff championship.
The bracket also features a first-round matchup between top-seeded North Dakota and Princeton. Winners of the two games, both to be played on Saturday, will meet on Sunday for a chance to go to the Frozen Four in Denver.
While Denver and North Dakota are both ranked among the top-five teams in the country, the Badgers will have an advantage in fan support. The three games will be played at the Kohl Center, where UW was 7-6-1 this season.
""We've got to make sure we use that,"" junior forward Ben Street said. ""We have to create some energy, fire the fans up and make sure it gets loud.""
In one series between the two teams this season, the Badgers traveled west and split with the Pioneers. But, one game ended in controversy and an admitted error on the part of the WCHA. The following night, the Badgers hung seven goals on Denver, their largest scoring output against a conference team this year.
But the Denver team the Badgers will play against this weekend has won four straight games and is 11-1-2 all-time against UW at the Kohl Center.
""They're just a solid team,"" Street said. ""They're playing real good hockey right now. Their goalie has played real well for them - they're not giving up a whole lot. They're creating a lot offensively.""
Wisconsin's freshman forward Kyle Turris leads its offense, but Dever's offense is also led by a rookie.Tyler Bozak has scored 18 goals and has 34 points in his first season of college hockey.
Senior goalie Peter Mannino brings a wealth of experience to the tournament. His goaltending in the post season three years ago played a big role in Denver's championship run and earned him Most Valuable Player honors in the Frozen Four.
Of the record six WCHA teams that made the tournament, three are in the Badgers' bracket. The fact that the Badgers have to go through two familiar teams in order to advance has both advantages and disadvantages, according to Eaves.
""Obviously, the pro is that you're very much aware of them,"" he said. ""You know their strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes when you play a team that you don't know, your styles, when you come together, they either clash or the way you play might be an advantageous thing for you.""
Speaking specifically about Denver, Eaves offered a candid guide of what to watch for: ""There's not going to be any punches pulled here. Both teams know each other pretty well.""
