Since you were probably too busy last weekend consuming adult beverages while dressed in outfits that would make Lady Gaga blush, I’ll let you in on something.

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team is for real.

While most people were scrambling Friday night to find somewhere for their friends from home to park, the Crease Creatures watched the Badgers outshoot New Hampshire by a ridiculous 51-13 margin.

Sure, UW only scored four goals in the game, but anytime you outshoot an opponent by that much, domination is the word that comes to mind. Hell, anytime the word “only” is used with the term “four goals,” you’ve done something right. To put it into more perspective, UW’s Ben Street had eight shots that game on his own. Jordy Murray had seven. Street and Murray — 15; UNH — 13.

The offense continued Saturday in a 6-1 UW win where the Badgers fired 45 more shots on goal. The Wildcats managed a much more respectable 22 shots on goal, though just five of those came on their five power plays. I mean five shots in 10 combined minutes with a man advantage? That’s like mugging children and coming up empty. Wisconsin goaltender Scott Gudmandson spent more time debating whether Cookie Monster or Gumby was a better student section costume than he did stopping shots.

In this two-game war, New Hampshire was France and Wisconsin was… well, anyone that’s fought the French in the last millennium or so.

Admittedly, it’s just six games into the season, and Wisconsin has a modest 3-2-1 record. The Badgers are ranked just 18th in the USCHO.com/CBS Sports poll.

But UW is second in the nation in penalty killing and first in the WCHA in shots, averaging 39.5 per game. The Badgers are tied for third nationally in scoring defense, giving up just 1.50 goals per game. They’re tied for third in scoring margin as well, scoring two more goals per game than they give up (3.50-1.50).

Obviously UW’s numbers got a big boost from last weekend’s series against New Hampshire, but the Wildcats are no pushover. UNH was ranked in the top 20 in most preseason polls after going 20-13-5 in 2008-09 and making it to the regional final of the NCAA tournament.

But something got into the Badgers last weekend, and even UNH head coach Dick Umile was not bashful about admitting it.

“We obviously are not in this team’s league, that’s for sure,” Umile said following Saturday’s game. “We got a lesson this weekend.”

So what’s been the secret to Wisconsin’s success on the ice? It has to be depth.

I mean, the Badgers aren’t New York Yankees deep or Detroit Red Wings deep. But there isn’t much of a drop-off in talent from line to line. And anytime you return 21 of 28 players on a roster, you’re going to be considered a deep team.

But it’s not just the veterans — keep in mind, UW’s best player last weekend was freshman John Ramage. The aptly nicknamed “Rammer” scored his first two collegiate goals against UNH and also chipped in an assist. More importantly, he played solid defense, taking just one penalty and posting a plus-3 in both games to lead the team.

Fellow freshman defenseman Justin Schultz also played a big role on defense and the penalty kill. And freshman forward Derek Lee played in both games despite having practiced with the team for just a week before the series. He wasn’t too bad either, going plus-1 Friday and going even in plus-minus Saturday.

Still need more evidence of the Badgers’ depth? Friday night, Wisconsin’s top line of Andy Bohmbach, Blake Geoffrion and Patrick Johnson didn’t register a point, putting just five combined shots on goal. The trio managed just six shots and one assist Saturday night.

In contrast, UW’s fourth line combined for two goals and three assists in the series. Sean Dolan, who skated on that line Saturday night, hadn’t played since Oct. 17, but had a goal and an assist. Michael Davies was third on the team in goals with 10 in 2008-09, but was a healthy scratch for UW’s opening series against Colorado College.

Competition for ice time is so great on this team that head coach Mike Eaves said after practice Tuesday that Johnson — who has started every game this season — is fighting not only to keep his starting spot, but to just keep himself in the lineup.

The team is deep enough that Eaves isn’t shy about playing mix and match on a nightly basis — he’s used the same lineup in just two games this season. And with all but three players having registered a point this season, changing up the lines night-to-night isn’t such a bad idea. Luckily, on-ice chemistry isn’t an issue, due to the veteran-heavy lineup.

So far, Wisconsin’s success has come as a result of a complete team effort. The Badgers shoot well, kill penalties, and get consistently solid goaltending from co-starters Gudmandson and Brett Bennett. And if at any point one part isn’t working, Eaves needs only to reach into his bag of 11 NHL draft picks to find a replacement.

There’s still a lot of hockey to be played, but when the Badgers make it back to the NCAA Tournament this year, it will be because from top to bottom, the UW roster gets the job done.

Adam is a junior majoring in journalism. Think team depth will lead to the NCAA Tournament, or is he being too optimistic? E-mail him at aholt@badgerherald.com.