[media-credit name=’JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo’ align=’alignright’ width=’336′][/media-credit]

There?s something different about Michael Davies, teammate
John Mitchell observed during a second-half of the season practice.

Nothing outwardly changed about Davies. His haircut was the
same, short and spiked in front; his skates were laced the same, tight and
double-knotted; and his deft stick-handling abilities were the same, capable of
deking anyone.?

But something was different. Mitchell was certain of it ?
Davies had grown up.

Only wanting to score goals, Davies would cheat in the
offensive zone ? the ?dark side? of offense as UW coach Mike Eaves said ?
meaning when the play went the other way, the sophomore forward would
reluctantly skate back.

He was a forward, not a defender, he thought.

What?s more, Davies wanted to score so bad he began
expecting his teammates to get him the puck even though he wasn?t returning the
favor. And that proved frustrating at times for his teammates.

?If he just kind of lollygags out there, then he kind of
loses the respect of his teammates,? Mitchell said. ?Guys don?t really want to
work hard for him.?

The score-first philosophy ingrained in Davies’ head began
losing its root after an early season benching, and it completely withered in
the final weeks of the regular season.

?He?s been coming to the rink with his lunchbox and really
working hard,? Mitchell said.

No longer does he cheat in the offensive zone or fail to get
back in the defensive zone.

?His game really thrives when he doesn?t just stand at the
side of the net waiting for the puck to come to him but goes into the corners
and recovers it himself,? UW forward Ben Street said. ?He?s grown defensively
too. Before, he was kind of one of those guys you were a little bit nervous
about putting in key situations. Now he?s going to block shots and battling
along the boards.?

Part of the transformation process for Davies was just
realizing that by playing harder, he?d play more and get the puck more, which
in turn improves his offensive numbers.

And while not big, standing 5-foot-9, Davies also realized
that he could use his entire frame to his advantage.

?The thing about Michael is he?s putting two and two
together. He?s not the biggest guy, but he can play physical and create a
turnover and a scoring chance by running into somebody,? Eaves said. ?It was
like the voltage finally went on enough that we could see it, and he could see
it and buy into it.?

An extra incentive to continue to give an upgraded effort is
seven points in the final five regular season games. The reward is he has been
moved up to the first line to play with Blake Geoffrion and Kyle Turris this
weekend.

?You can respond the shift after getting bench[CR1], or you can
respond night after night,? Street said. ?That?s how he?s going to be
successful, and knowing that, that?s how he?s adapted.?

One hole in Davies? game is that he?s still learning how to
finish. No one contends that his stick-handling abilities are deft, but most of
his goals have come off[CR2]one-timers and
while standing still, not after a series of moves.

?He?s got great hands and real good vision,? Street said.
?He might be a bit of a playmaker and dangler before he is a finisher.?

Not to worry ? Mitchell gives Davies plenty of grief about
it.

?We might send him a message saying, ?Have you ever scored a
goal that wasn?t right off the side of the net” Mitchell said.

All the same, Davies came into the year, along with former
linemate Ben Street as Wisconsin?s top returning goal-scorers. As it stands,
they are again No. 1 and No. 2 ? Davies and Turris are tied with 11 goals
apiece ? on the team.

?He has always had that knack for finding the back of the
net. Goal scorers have that,? Mitchell said. ?It?s not how, but how many.?

Davies said playing in the shadow of Turris and Geoffrion
has helped. Most teams have focused more of their attention on Wisconsin?s top
offensive prospects, allowing then second-liner Davies and Street more freedom
with the puck.

Lining up alongside those two this weekend, Davis said, will
now shift the focus onto him. But with his teammates now fully on his side,
he?s ready for the challenge.