One by one, the lights flickered out on the UW men’s hockey team at Wednesday’s practice in the Kohl Center. The players slowly skated to a halt, startled and bewildered by the darkened facility. However, it took just seconds before head coach Jeff Sauer offered his well-versed guidance to the situation.
“Let’s go!” Sauer shouted from just past mid-ice, sternly outfitted in his skates and gloves with stick in hand. And with that simple command, practice resumed in the dim arena with an increased sense of urgency.
The momentary pause offered a glimpse into the current mindset of the sub-.500 Badgers. After dropping four of their last six games and with North Dakota coming to town tonight, Wisconsin can ill-afford to pause and reflect on those missed opportunities.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position behind the eight ball.” Sauer explained. “It has become more important to start playing well. Hopefully, it starts this weekend here at home.”
It has been a rough stretch in the season for the Badgers (6-7-7, 4-3-1 WCHA). Underachievement, a lack of offensive production and injuries have all taken a significant toll on the team. To the outsider, the mood surrounding the Wisconsin locker room might seem to signify a loss of confidence.
Rather, the reality of the situation screams diligence.
When the Badgers begin their second series of the season with North Dakota Friday, UW fans can rest assured the team will mean business.
“From a psychological standpoint, which was the problem last Friday, we were not ready to play,” Sauer said. “This one we’ll [be] ready to play.”
On the ice, Wisconsin and North Dakota could not be further opposite one another. The Badgers have relied on a tough defense and solid goaltending to make up for an offense that has scored just 25 goals in the WCHA this season, a number which only exceeds the totals of Michigan Tech and Minnesota-Duluth, occupants of the bottom two slots in the conference standings.
Meanwhile the Sioux (5-7-1, 4-5-1 WCHA), winners of four of the last five WCHA regular season titles and once thought to be invulnerable, have lost significant prominence this season due to weak goaltending and shoddy defensive play.
UND goalie Andy Kollar comes into tonight’s matchup with a paltry 3.93 goals against average and only a .872 save percentage. In addition, the North Dakota defense has given up 40 goals already this season, third worst in the WCHA ahead of only the same two teams that have made the Badgers’ offensive weaknesses appear adequate.
“We’re not generating shots,” Sauer said. “We’re struggling to score goals, and they’re struggling to stop goals. That alone should make for an interesting series.”
Both UW and UND have also dealt with and folded under the pressures of meeting exceedingly high expectations this season. For Wisconsin, that has meant a lack of offensive production from the expected nucleus of returning seniors — for the Sioux, a depleted pool of talent and disappointing defensive play.
Yet, it is still North Dakota. No matter the record, the Badgers must expect to face the same team that is the current defender of MacNaughton’s Cup and one that still continues to receive a significant number of votes in national polls based on respect alone.
But fans and UW supporters can take comfort in knowing that if that championship- caliber North Dakota team is the one that shows up tonight at the Kohl Center and shoots the lights out on Wisconsin, the Badgers will not stop and ponder their ever-dimming hopes.
They will play on.
