The No. 4-nationally ranked University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team (20-7-1 overall, 15-5-0 WCHA) travels westward this weekend for a series chock-full of conference and national implications with No. 3 Denver (20-6-1, 15-4-1).
Wisconsin will be looking to improve its PairWise ranking, a key component for NCAA tournament seeding. Despite their high national poll ranking and winning percentage, the Badgers currently sit in a tie for 13th place in the PairWise, whereas Denver is currently second. Only solid performances against quality opponents like the Pioneers will move Wisconsin up in the ranking.
“They understand what’s in front of them,” UW head coach Mike Eaves said of his players. “We need to get points. We need to make some noise to help our PairWise ranking.”
Denver, the defending NCAA Champion, moved into second place in the WCHA standings last weekend with a sweep in North Dakota, while Wisconsin’s home split with Minnesota dropped the Badgers to third. UW currently trails first-place Colorado College by four points and Denver by just one.
The Badgers and Pioneers have already met this season (late October in Madison), with Wisconsin winning the opening game 6-3 and Denver answering with a 5-3 Saturday night victory.
“Once again I think we’re really excited about just coming out and playing another great team, on the road, and just really go in there and get points from them,” UW goaltender Bernd Bruckler said. “I think they definitely pose a challenge. They have one of the best offenses in the nation, and I think they’re a very balanced attack and that’s what makes it difficult to defend against them.”
Denver ranks first in the nation in goals scored per game, with an average of 4.26 per contest. The Pioneer scoring balance is staggering, with seven players totaling at least 20 points and seven double-digit goal-scorers, more than any other team in the conference.
Junior forward Gabe Gauthier, the top scorer on last season’s squad, leads the Pioneer attack with 34 points (14 goals and 20 assists). Senior forwards Jon Foster and Luke Fulghum share the team lead in goals, with 15 each. Denver also spreads its offensive wealth around, with double-digit point scorers on all four lines.
“We’ve got to be so solid defensively,” UW captain Adam Burish said. “We talked about taking away the middle of the ice. If you’re solid in the middle of the ice, their scoring chances are going to be eliminated, because every goal is scored from the middle of the ice.”
Just like Minnesota, Denver possesses defensemen willing to join the offensive attack. The pairing of junior Brett Skinner and sophomore Matt Carle have combined for 55 points on the season. Senior Jussi Halme has also chipped in 11 points.
“They’re very skilled, very offensive-minded defensemen,” Burish said. “At the same time, we may have the ability to catch them, catch some breaks because they’re jumping. Maybe create some 2-on-1’s because they’re up in the play. But, they’re very talented, very skilled and we’ve got to be aware when they’re on the ice.”
After heavily relying on senior goaltender Adam Berkhoel last season, Denver has rotated a pair of youngsters in net this year. Sophomore Glenn Fisher has generally started series opening games and has posted a 9-4-1 record. However, Fisher’s save percentage currently sits at just .893. The Badgers beat Fisher for all six goals in their first matchup with the Pioneers this season.
Freshman Peter Mannino has started 13 games in goal for the Pioneers, winning 11 of them, including Denver’s win over Wisconsin earlier in the year. Mannino has made the most of his debut season thus far, sporting a .921 save percentage and a 2.22 goals-against average.
“We don’t focus a whole lot about who’s going to be in net,” Burish said. “We’re not worried about that. The main thing is it’s going to be a smaller ice sheet, so you’re going to have to shoot the puck a lot.”
Wisconsin will have to adjust to playing on the smaller surface of Magness Arena (which also is equipped for instant replay), compared to the Olympic-sized ice of the Kohl Center. As a result, the series should feature even more physical play.
“It’s a smaller sheet, so there’s more action going on,” Burish said. “Pucks are bouncing off the walls faster. And our guys get excited playing in a small rink, because it’s more physical and there’s more hitting, and our guys love that. Our guys love a physical battle, where you’re in somebody’s face, and you’re grinding it out in the corner.”
Wisconsin took three out of four weekend points the last time it played in Denver during December of last season. A similar performance will place the Badgers back into second place in the WCHA and likely give them total control of their own destiny in the conference title race.
“It’s a big series as far as points and we want them,” Burish said. “Again, we go into the weekend starting off with Friday night, expecting to win Friday night, and just taking care of Saturday night when Saturday night comes.”
