SPORTS
Ice Badgers move to 2nd place in WCHA
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Also by Tom Ziemer:
- Badgers place Owls in crosshairs, aim for victory (September 9, 2005)
- "The Kid" deservedly basking in spotlight (October 7, 2005)
- Fantasy Fever 9 (November 3, 2005)
- UW closes out spring at Marquette tourney (April 15, 2005)
- Much maligned UW defense rebounds to pitch shutout (September 12, 2005)
Related Stories:
- Badgers sweep Seawolves (March 1, 2004)
- Wisconsin hosts North Dakota (November 12, 2004)
- Badgers set for WCHA foe Fighting Sioux (January 21, 2005)
- Down but not out (March 10, 2003)
by Tom Ziemer
Monday, November 15, 2004
The sixth-ranked Wisconsin men’s hockey team (7-3-0 overall, 5-3-0 in WCHA) ended a three-game losing streak with a sweep of fourth-ranked North Dakota (5-5-2 overall, 3-4-1 in WCHA) this weekend at the Kohl Center. The Badgers dropped the Sioux 1-0 Friday and finished up the sweep with a 5-2 victory in Saturday night’s contest.
Wisconsin never trailed North Dakota during the weekend and came within 6:48 of shutting the fighting Sioux out in back to back games — something that UND has never experienced in school history.
“The whole weekend was an opportunity of growth for us as a team, and we took that opportunity by winning two games here at home against a quality team,” head coach Mike Eaves said. “It was an opportunity for us to grow and forge ourselves into the type of team that we want to have at the end of the year where we can do some things.”
Freshman forward Joe Pavelski staked UW to a first period lead in Saturday night’s game, ripping a slap shot off a pass from sophomore Robbie Earl to beat Sioux goaltender Philippe Lamoureux through his five-hole with 10:39 remaining in the opening period. Earl increased the Ice Badgers’ lead at the 11:24 mark of the second period on a one-timer from freshman defenseman Kyle Klubertanz.
Wisconsin entered the final period with a 2-0 lead despite facing five UND power plays in the first two periods and being out shot 17-8 in the second.
“It was funny, the first period I thought we played structurally as well as I’ve seen us in terms of forechecking,” Eaves said. “Then, the second period with people in the box, we played dysfunctional. We had lines that hadn’t been used to playing together, and that’s when Bernd (Brückler) stepped to the forefront and shut down the fort, and kept things right where it was.”
Brückler made several sparkling saves on the night, and stopped 34 Fighting Sioux shots in all. North Dakota did come within a goal on two occasions, and first got on the board on sophomore Chris Porter’s fourth goal of the season 13:12 into the final period. Porter scored on a backhand shot from almost behind the net that went off of Brückler’s back and into the net.
However, Wisconsin had the answer, scoring just 47 seconds later on a Ross Carlson goal. Junior Nick Licari centered the puck from the left side to Jake Dowell, who sent a pass to Carlson in the right slot for the finish.
Freshman Travis Zajac closed the Sioux deficit to 3-2 with 2:50 remaining on a deflection goal off of a Nick Fuher shot, but that was as close as they would get, as Dowell and Carlson added empty net goals to put the game away.
“Well, I just had to keep playing aggressive and really stand tall in there and not get scored on again,” Bruckler said about giving up the two third period goals. “I mean we were still up, and we still had a lead going. We’ve played well with leads late in the game, and again we were able to pull one out there.”
Friday night’s game featured plenty of shots, but a surprising lack of scoring. Both teams traded power plays in the first period, but neither could capitalize. Wisconsin broke the deadlock with 9:38 remaining in the second on junior Ryan MacMurchy’s third goal of the season, the eventual game-winner. Klubertanz sent a pass from the right side across the ice to MacMurchy, who beat Lamoureux on the far side.
“Well, the guy got his stick on my stick at the end,” MacMurchy said. “I definitely didn’t get all of it, but I’m glad I went far side there. He was coming across quick, because he had to go side to side, so if I would have got all of it, maybe he wouldn’t have been slid over, and I wouldn’t have had the wide open net yet. So, fortunately, it went in; whatever, I’ll take it.”
The end of the second period generated an even higher level of intensity that would carry over to Saturday. With a few seconds remaining, Brückler trapped the puck against the boards and waited for the time remaining. Sioux forward Rory McMahon went aggressively after the puck, and made contact with Brückler, knocking the Badger goaltender to the ice. The result was a melee that gave UW a power play heading into the third.
After being out shot 9-7 in the game’s opening period, Wisconsin produced a combined 29-14 shot advantage in the second and third. Brückler only needed to make five saves in the final stanza to finish off the Sioux and post the first UW shutout of North Dakota since the 1981-82 season.
“Again tonight, the fact that we kept the tempo up, we kept playing the way that we wanted to play, we didn’t sit back, and that’s a credit to the guys,” Eaves said. “You’ve got a 1-0 lead in a big game, and they’re still playing. We executed the things we wanted to do, which is a good sign for a young team. They had the poise and confidence to do the things that they needed to do to preserve the victory, and we were able to do it, so kudos to our kids.”
