Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin
Rather than scramble the lines after a low energy and fairly lackluster performance, Tony sent the Freshman - Mersch, Achan, and Caufield - over the boards to start the game along with Kalynuk and Inamoto in a move I really like. It sent a message to the boys that playing hard is going to get you more time and a bigger role on this team no matter who you are, plus that line set the tone for the game by establishing the hard forecheck right from the drop of the puck. Also paid off as that line took control in the offensive zone about six minutes in, eventually drawing a penalty and scoring the rare delayed call goal. Achan credited with his first, but it was actually Mersch who was strong in front of the net with the tip in for his first as a Badger. Remains to be seen if the scoring will be corrected.
The first remained a one sided affair, but The Larry's Arthur Brey was very good in net, managing to keep the puck out on the next 20 or so shots until goals by Kalynuk and Dhooghe midway through the second chased him to the bench. Things began to get pretty chippy the rest of the way, which was actually a good thing for the Badgers, because they were able to get in a lot of special teams work. Seamus finally got the PP off the schnied early in the third with a goal from Johnson and Weisbach. By the end of the game the PP was really clicking with good, crisp passes lot's of movement to open areas and they notched a couple more really pretty goals. Hopefully that success will build a little confidence and get the special teams going next week.
In a game in which he didn't get much work early, I thought the big Finn looked good in goal. Made a few lovely saves when the boys got a little sloppy in front of him, and looked very composed the whole way. Great game to get him started off in and he sounded really excited to have played so well in his first outing. I can see what the staff sees in him as he really is a prototypical NHL type goalie in how he plays. Will be interesting to see how the staff plays it this week. Split time or stick with the winner? I'd kind of like to see them split time for a bit, myself. There's that element of added pressure if your guys are of the mindset that if they make a mistake they're done until the other guy blows it. I'm not sure that's the best way to handle goalies, but we'll see what the brain trust comes up with.
I should add for those that didn't see it, the only goal against was on an odd man rush where the right winger sent it back against the grain stick side and piped it high corner and in with a perfect shot from the low circle. Pretty much an unstoppable shot.
