The young No. 7 Wisconsin men's hockey team (11-7-2 WCHA, 19-8-3 overall) has been forced to grow up in a hurry this season amidst a very tight race in the WCHA. During their current stretch the Badgers have rattled off 12 wins in their past 13 games and are shooting up the national polls.
As the Badgers go on the road to face off with WCHA newcomer No. 16 Nebraska-Omaha (12-6-2, 16-10-2) in a match-up that will go a long way in shaping the conference standings, it will also give us a chance to see just how much this young group of Badgers has grown.
A telltale sign of experience and maturity in hockey is how your team responds in the close games. Wisconsin struggled mightily early in the year in winning those tight contests, at one point losing five straight one-goal games. Recently, however, the team has made winning the close games a habit, prevailing in five straight one-goal contests.
""We have a young team here and we've had to mature,"" sophomore defenseman Justin Schultz said. ""Early this season we didn't know how to win those one-goal games, but we've learned now how to go out there, grind it out and find ways to win each night.""
""I've said it before: our freshmen have really come together and stepped up their game,"" senior goaltender Scott Gudmandson added. ""A lot of older guys have done the same, and I think that has been the difference in being just short or coming out on top.""
The Badgers' new-found maturity will be tested this weekend by a UNO team that has taken the WCHA by storm in the program's first season in the conference. The Mavericks are fourth in the standings with 26 points, only two points ahead of Wisconsin, so the players know how much weight this series carries.
""It's a huge weekend, and everyone knows what is at stake,"" senior captain Sean Dolan said. ""We're close to every team left on the schedule, but its starts this weekend in Omaha.""
""I think it's the biggest series of the year,"" Schultz said.
The Mavericks have found success this season with a balanced offensive attack that has seen six players reach the 20-point plateau. Omaha will test the Badgers' defense, which ranks as the stingiest in the country only giving up an average of two goals per game.
""They have a lot of skilled forwards that can skate,"" Schultz said. ""We have to take time and space away from their top players because if you give them room they will make you pay.""
Dolan said that he and the rest of the forwards are focusing on putting pressure on UNO's defensive core.
""They have big defensemen that can move the puck,"" he said. ""We have to get on those defensemen as forwards and force them into mistakes with the puck.""
One key to this series will be whether or not the Badgers will have to shake off any rust coming off their bye week. Wisconsin hasn't played since its 4-1 win over Michigan Tech on Jan. 29.
""We haven't played in a couple weeks so there will probably be some rust to shake off,"" head coach Mike Eaves said. ""We're planning on keeping it simple in the first period on Friday to help get our legs underneath us again.""
""We feel refreshed; our bodies are in good shape now and we're excited to get back out there,"" Gudmandson said. ""This is a big series for us and we're excited to get going.""
