The Badgers were in Denver taking on WCHA opponent the Pioneers. After this weekend's play, the conference looks like this (with overall points totals):
1 Minnesota 25
2 Denver 20
3 St. Cloud State 19
4 Colorado College 18
5 Wisconsin 13
North Dakota 13
7 Alaska Anchorage 12
Michigan Tech 12
9 Minnesota Duluth 10
Minnesota State 10
So we split the weekend series with DU, losing Friday night 3-2 and winning Saturday night 4-0.
For Friday's game, UW was still missing the 3 players that were playing for the US Under 20 team in Sweden. (They won, so much congrats to Skille, Geoffrion and McBain) The team seemed to sorely miss these guys, as they're return in time for Saturday's game appeared to be a difference maker.
Friday night the Badgers out-shot DU 35-23, but were pathetic in penalty kills. All 3 DU goals came on the power-play, leaving them 3-9 on man advantage situations for the night.
If Friday night was a lesson in penalty killing futility, then Saturday night was a showcase for the talent this team does have. Four different Badgers scored goals and the team killed 7 DU penalties, including a 5 on 3 situation near the end of the second period in which Brian Elliot was simply spectacular.
Ben Street scored within the first minute of the game. Tom Gorowsky and Matt Ford each scored on a Power Play in the second period. Andy Brandt added an empty netter to put the game away in the final period.
This team seems to have a hard time finding a rhythm and it's clear they still haven't found a go-to goal scorer (I read the other day that UW has 16 power play goals and 8 of them have been scored by Jake Dowell) But there are definitely glimmers of hope that break out.
It will be interesting to see which UW team shows up at home against league leading Minnesota this coming weekend. If the boys don't get up for this game, the bloodbath could be long and flowing.
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