Re: Wisconsin Hockey, Vol II: Rebuild, Refresh, and Renew!
Polls are out.
UW is #18.
http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Polls are out.
UW is #18.
http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/
Through 8 games the badgers have given up the least amount of goals in big ten play. One less than Penn St. Tied for most goals scored.
The trend is fantastic. Both goalies are on top of their game right now. It was awesome to bee Matt get the win after those kinda flukey goals. Now they need to take care of business with MSU.
It is interesting that Eaves used to talk about the huge roster providing competition, yet the same guys played night after night. This staff has gotten every player involved and done a good job of having guys make big contributions when they get them into the lineup. I think competition only works if there is some hope you are actually going to get to play in a game. At the very least, this staff has a really good feel for the players involved and when they are playing well and ready to contribute.
Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?
Really think that this weekend will say a lot about this team's growth. We are playing an inferior team and should get some results - but on the road things will be more difficult. Can they keep the same focus and not get complacent? These guys haven't been in this situation before - and least not the last few years.
Regardless - what a situation this team finds itself in at this point. Very exciting! When the Non-Hockey Badger Fans at work start talking UW Hockey, I know things are turning around.
I agree, if this team wants to solidify that they are for real. A sweep this weekend is a must. No slip ups against an inferior team.
I worry about what the emotional toll from Saturday's game will be.
They played a solid game for 58 minutes and were probably feeling really good about themselves.
Then they let in 2 goals to tie the game and things probably got pretty low.
Then you get the OT winner on a slightly controversial goal (I think it was a good goal) and your emotions rocket back up.
Add in the fact that you couldn't score during a 5 min PP with 2 min of that being 5 x 3...
I'm just not sure what to expect from the guys on Friday. I hope they come out with the intensity to match how well they have been playing in general, but I could see it being a horrible first period.
Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?
During one of the Wisconsin powerplays I said out loud "we need a Kunin one timer" and about 3 seconds later Kunin scored a one timer from the point.
Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?
A couple of very entertaining games gives UW the split, all things considered I'll take that.
Wisconsin DOUBLES the votes that they are getting, but to 2 now! receiving votes, 26th
RPI steady at 27
PWR bumps up to 2t (tied with Clarkson and MTU)
Team O, 3.65 - 6th
Team D, 3.30 - 49th
PP, 27/120 22.50% - 8th
PK, 86/99 86.9% - 8th
Next we get the road series against OSU, Thursday in Ohio, Saturday at The Garden.
Wisconsin DOUBLES the votes that they are getting, but to 2 now! receiving votes, 26th
RPI steady at 27
PWR bumps up to 2t (tied with Clarkson and MTU)
Team O, 4.23 - 2nd
Team D, 2.77 - 28th
PP, 24/92 26.09% - 2nd
PK, 75/97 77.3% - 52nd
I think the key focus that the stats show is that UW needs to put up a lot of shots as early as they can. UW is 4-0-0 when leading after 1 and OSU is 0-1-3 when trailing. This is probably easier said than done...UW has a goal differential of -8 (16 to 28) in the first while OSU has a differential of +17 (33 to 16) .
If UW is able to get a lead, they need to keep the foot on the gas pedal and get separation. UW is 4-3 in 1-goal games, while OSU is 3-0.
The formula is simple, get early shots that lead to early goals and maximize the PP opportunities; but then again you could probably say that about any Team A facing Team B.
In "getting way too far ahead of ourselves" news...they have UW in the latest Bracketology
LINK
We are tied for first in the B1G and get in on some sort of tie-breaker.
I think my head is going to explode now...
In "getting way too far ahead of ourselves" news...they have UW in the latest Bracketology
LINK
We are tied for first in the B1G and get in on some sort of tie-breaker.
I think my head is going to explode now...