[media-credit name=’AJ Maclean’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]As the Wisconsin Badgers closed the kennel door on the Michigan Tech Huskies at the Kohl Center Saturday night, the main factor in the series shined prominently on the scoreboard. After registering more than twice as many shots on goal as the Huskies in the Friday night rout, Wisconsin served up an even more staggering differential Saturday by out-shooting Michigan Tech 46-13.

Though they were only able to capitalize on three of those opportunities, the Badger attack applied constant pressure on the young Husky defense with an effort spread evenly between all four lines.

“When you have balance, it’s tough for the opposing coach to say, ‘We gotta cover this guy,'” head coach Mike Eaves said. “If they look at the roster, they might say, ‘Well we have to play against MacMurchy and Joudrey,’ because they had pretty good numbers from last year. But now everyone else has chipped in.”

In the 7-3 Friday-night blowout, Wisconsin’s second line stepped up to deliver most of the afternoon’s offensive firepower. Left wing Robbie Earl, center Joe Pavelski and right wing Adam Burish all scored a goal with Earl logging two assists and Pavelski one. Alongside the veteran Burish and the seasoned sophomore Earl, Pavelski launched his young NCAA career — now just four games old — in an explosive manner.

Though the Plover, Wis. native came to Wisconsin carrying a burden of lofty expectations, few would have guessed that on a team with so many scoring threats a freshman center would be leading the team in scoring heading into the third weekend of play.

“[Pavelski]’s playing with some pretty good people, which really helps a lot,” Eaves said. “The higher levels you go, you just don’t get points and have success by yourself.”

Pavelski also sparked the offense as a distributor Saturday night, assisting sophomore defenseman Jeff Likens on the power play to capture an early lead. Later in that period, he notched yet another goal for himself on a pass from Earl at even strength. In six of the Badgers’ 10 goals over the course of the weekend, at least one member of the second line was involved in the score — three of which were connections dialed up between Pavelski and Earl.

“I think the main thing about our three core is that speed and transition,” Earl said. “We rarely get in there and try to bang away. I think with Burish’s speed and [Pavelski]’s creativity, scoring on the rush and just being creative [is our strength].”

While the second line continued to step up in the early going, the Badgers’ keynote trio of Matt Auffrey, Andrew Joudrey and Ryan MacMurchy continued to look relatively ineffectual. However, MacMurchy, the leading returning scorer from last year’s squad, finally got on the scorecard Saturday night, nabbing an even strength goal at 12:08 in the second period.

It was the only goal the crew logged on the weekend, with greater assist totals also coming from the second and third lines. Still, for MacMurchy, the goal helped the young right wing return to a state of offensive productivity.

“It was especially pleasing to see Mac (MacMurchy) score, I think that took a big monkey off his back,” Eaves said. “Mac wants to do so well for his team and it hasn’t been as easy but that’s the flow and ebb of offense. But he stayed with it and was rewarded with [the goal]. As he said, ‘I got all of that one, coach.'”

Finally, fans Friday night witnessed the emergence of an old connection brought back to life on Kohl Center ice. Duluth, Minn. natives Nick Licari and Ross Carlson, packaged with center Jake Dowell, helped the Badgers take control of the game.

The line featured prominently in the scoring flurry of the second and third periods, and a goal by Licari (assisted by Carlson) in the opening seconds of the second period shifted the momentum back toward Wisconsin.

“One of the things Nick (Licari) brings to that line is his energy chemistry, and him and Carlson seem to have some chemistry going right now,” Eaves said. “The reason that we started them at the beginning of the second period is because they can create that energy.”

For the junior Licari and the sophomore Carlson, who have known each other since grade school, the bond between the pair isn’t a new development but just a fateful second wind from when they were teammates in high school.

“[Carlson] is actually older than I am,” Licari said. “When I was a sophomore and he was a senior; we went to the state tournament together, and we did some good things. I was excited when he came here, and I was hoping to get a chance to play with him and finally have.”

Licari served up an especially notable performance Friday, registering a goal and two assists.

“[Licari] probably works the hardest on our line,” Carlson said. “He’s one of the guys in the corner digging for pucks; he’ll take a hit to make the play. He’s one of the better players that I’ve played with in my ranks.”

The following night, however, the Badgers’ third line appeared more prominently in a more dubious stat column. While neither Licari, Carlson nor Dowell participated in any of the team’s three goals, they combined for 10 penalty minutes. Licari’s second trip to the sin bin, for a hard check in the back midway through the second period, came less than five minutes after referees flagged the left wing for holding.

Later, in the third period, a hooking call on Carlson ended a short 5-on-3 situation and neutralized the subsequent power play.

“You can always strive for perfection, but it’s never within grasp,” Eaves said. “But it’s always fun to try and get there. We did a lot of good things this week.”

As Eaves and the Badgers prepare for week two of WCHA play against the defending national champion Denver Pioneers in Madison, the performance across all of the Wisconsin lines will continue to play a crucial role in the team’s conference title hopes.

“Confidence is as important as any pass that they can make in the game,” Eaves said. “Our young people have confidence, and that’s what’s going to set us up for these next couple weekends.”