All season, the Badgers have prided themselves on their ability to adjust. Whether that comes in the form of changing lines mid-game or dressing different players on the fourth line and on defense, the Badgers have found a way to overcome adversity and often earn wins.
In No. 18 Wisconsin’s (8-2-0-0 Big Ten, 15-8-1 overall) sweep of Michigan State (1-7-2-0, 5-16-3) in East Lansing this weekend, the Badgers once again had to adjust in order to earn a tough six points.
In the first game of the weekend, Badgers senior defenseman Tim Davison drew a kneeing penalty, but was taken to the locker room and did not return. Accordingly, like numerous other times this season, the Badgers were forced to adjust and play with only five defenseman.
Still, despite the early exit by one of their key defenders, the Badgers played solid defensive hockey, including several big blocked shots that ultimately helped lead to a 6-3 victory.
“One thing you can say about our team is that it doesn't matter what the score is, they'll slide in front of one and take a big shot," head coach Tony Granato said. "That's one thing we've been focused on. We don't like it when people score against us and that's been really solid for us all year.”
Without Davison in the lineup for game two, the Badgers were already thin on defense, and got even thinner when freshman defenseman J.D. Greenway was ejected for fighting after a scrum broke out in front of the Badgers net.
“I’m not going to get mad at J.D. for that,” Granato said. “He went in there to defend his teammate, got punched back and pushed in the face and probably went a little bit overboard.”
Once again, with only five defenders, the Badgers found a way to battle and secure another road victory, this time in overtime off the stick of junior defenseman Jake Linhart.
"We battled. I think that's the fourth time in a row against Michigan State that we've gone down to five defensemen," Linhart said. "It's pretty tough when it happens that early, every time has been in the first or second period, but we battled through it. I'm pretty tired right now, I think everyone is, so we'll take the day off tomorrow and get ready for this week.”
Going forward, the Badgers will face similar adversity, as Greenway’s fighting penalty will not allow him to play in the first game of next weekend’s home series against No. 6 Penn State.
Still, like they have all season, the Badgers will look to adjust and find a way to beat the Nittany Lions, even with new players in the lineup.
