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Badger forward steps into role
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Also by Kevin Hagstrom:
- UW, Mavericks remain tied after split (February 18, 2008)
- Badgers host Mavericks (February 15, 2008)
- Johnson notches 1st goal (February 11, 2008)
- Smaller ice awaits Badgers (February 8, 2008)
- Badgers still in 4th-place tie with Bulldogs (February 4, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Geoffrion keeps it simple (November 30, 2007)
- Engel finds niche at new position (December 6, 2007)
- Badgers hoping to ride confidence after victory (February 8, 2002)
- Hockey in their blood (February 14, 2008)
- Sophomores to play for U.S.A. (December 6, 2007)
by Kevin Hagstrom
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
For every Pavel Datsyuk, there is a Tomas Holmstrom.
For every skilled player, a team needs a gritty player to
take hits, get beat up a little bit and ultimately be there to collect rebounds
in front of the crease.
Blake Geoffrion is that guy for Wisconsin.
“For Blake to be effective, I think it’s one of the things
he has to do all the time,” UW men’s hockey coach Mike Eaves said during his
press conference Monday.
“If you take a look at the national hockey league, if you
take a look at Mr. Holmstrom, who plays for the Detroit Red Wings, he’s made a
living being in the 3-by-4 area in front of the crease and making life
miserable for the opposing goaltender with his ability to see the puck, get
tip-ins and rebounds,” Eaves continued.
Geoffrion began showing signs that he is ready to fulfill
that role. He picked up an assist Saturday night because a rebounding shot hit
off of him and found his teammate Michael Davies for the goal. He also set up
another by screening Minnesota State goaltender Mike Zacharias from the play.
Although Geoffrion is willing to do whatever it takes to
help the team win, as he indicated during the post game press conference
Saturday, he still envisions himself doing bigger, fancier things, Eaves said.
“He needs to get that mindset like Mr. Holmstrom: ‘This is
where I need to make my living,’” Eaves said. “Wayne Gretzky’s office was
behind the net dishing pucks; his living has to be up front.”
Time to take the lead
The men’s hockey team hasn’t had any difficulty this season coming
from behind. Wisconsin has won or tied nine games this season when facing a
deficit heading into the third period.
“We continue to play with confidence in our ability not to
panic and to continue to play and do the things we want and have found ways to
come back and get ties or victories,” Eaves said.
Since the Badgers have scored first in just 40 percent of
their games this season, they’ve almost grown accustomed to having to come
back.
According to Eaves, it’s not as though his team doesn’t play
well from the get-go, it’s just that the opportunities haven’t turned into
goals.
“In the first period we’ve felt that we’ve played some
really good hockey,” he said. “We just haven’t scored. And as a result, we find
ourselves behind.”
While the success has been there, Eaves hopes his team can also
get practice playing with the lead, because, as he put it, it takes a much
different mindset.
“I wish we would have more games where we had the lead going
into the third period, because that’s a different mentality,” he said. “Playing
from behind, there’s a different pursuit, a different aggressiveness that you
need to have.”
Saturday night was one of the few opportunities Wisconsin
has had this season playing with a lead, and a big one at that. The Badgers
jumped out to a 4-0 lead in that one but gave up two unanswered goals.
Eaves was pleased the team was able to gain some experience
in those situations, but he still would like to see more balance. He felt that
the team played too cautiously and may have been the direct link to those
Maverick goals.
Connelly continues to emerge
Beyond the second-half numbers — in which Shane Connelly has
allowed two or fewer goals on all but three occasions while allowing just one
goal five times — is a player who understands the game more.
According to Eaves, his junior goaltender has latched on to
the idea that he can go out and play pucks and survey the ice as well as act as
a third defenseman.
“I think he’s evolving into becoming a much more effective goalie,” Eaves said.
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