It has been nearly three weeks since the Badgers (3-4-3) last skated in the Kohl Center, but expect fans in red to flock to the 17,230-seat arena this Friday and Saturday for showdowns against No. 9 Denver (6-3-1).
Despite a disappointing start to the season, head coach Mike Eaves’ squad has caught fire as of late. After sweeping an upstart Arizona State team at home, UW split two games with formerly top-ranked North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. To say the Badgers are ready get back on the ice would be a drastic understatement.
“First of all, on a bye weekend, we usually don't have coaches come in and speak,” Eaves said following the Nov. 6 win at North Dakota. "I think what transpired this past weekend was worth celebrating.”
Lost in all the excitement and eagerness to keep the puck rolling is the Badgers’ unified awareness of team improvements.
“Under the pressure that we had here tonight, this group of loose carbons maybe is coming into a diamond a little bit with a little bit more time here,” Eaves said.
Looking ahead to this upcoming weekend, Wisconsin will need to play to its strengths and prove to the country that its recent success is here to stay.
Denver comes into the series having won three out of its last four games.
If the Badgers are going to pull off the upset at least once in this series, it is going to start and end with slowing down the stick of junior defenseman Will Butcher. Midway through the season, the former Colorado Avalanche draftee leads the Pioneers with 10 points (three goals and seven assists).
Not far behind, junior forward Matt Marcinew has netted a team leading five goals on the season. Together, these two upperclassmen figure to be a thorn in Wisconsin’s side this weekend.
As for the surging Badgers, UW will attempt to replicate its recent success. Expect Eaves to design plays for junior forward Grant Besse. With the lonely UW goal in the 3-1 loss at North Dakota, Besse extended his point streak to seven straight games.
The changing of fortunes as of late has Badger fans reminiscing of its 2006 title run. Although many may not yet see it through the same lens, a pair of wins this weekend will surely clear some fog from the glasses.
UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
