Nothing feels better than winning, and after the 0-6-1 start by the Wisconsin men's hockey team, that phrase could not be truer. Last Saturday, after entering the third period against North Dakota at Ralph Engelstad Arena down 2-0, the Badgers came out with their guns a' blazing, and scored five goals to put the team's first notch in the win column.
In college hockey, where teams can tie both games in a weekend series, leaving both teams' fans in a state of purgatory for the week to come, the need to be successful is imperative, especially in the second game of the series. Last season, the Badgers had trouble starting off games on the right skate, but also had trouble closing out series, as the team only swept one - at home against St. Cloud State - all year.
This season has seen the opposite occur, as the Badgers have scored first in five of the team's eight games, only to lose the lead in the third period in all five of those contests.
But with a win everything changes, and the Badgers will enter their second home series of the season against Michigan Tech Friday with a new level of confidence.
I think it has to put a number on that type of thing, but I do know that somebody said we got the monkey off our back and confidence in our pocket,"" head coach Mike Eaves said at his Monday press conference.
Wisconsin's first win of the season does take pressure off the team, but at the same time gives Badger fans the expectation for more victories. That expectation will be there this weekend, as the Huskies come to Madison with the same number of conference wins, but have not played the level of competition the Badgers have so far this season. Wisconsin's first five opponents have all been nationally ranked, while Michigan Tech has only played No. 1-ranked Colorado College, losing both games to the Tigers.
For those who don't consider a Saturday win to be any more important, the fact is that Saturday wins - which either end the series with a sweep, a draw or a 3-point weekend - give an incredible boost to the winning squad.
For Wisconsin, instead of trying to create confidence this week, the team already has it from Saturday's victory. With such a young squad, confidence plays an even bigger role. Young teams always seem to play better even if they are making mistakes, as long as they are confident while doing it.
Eaves has remarked that during the 0-5-1 start prior to last weekend, players were in the right spot physically, but not mentally. Confidence can give the UW players that ability to react in those situations in which they might have otherwise hesitated.
And don't forget the play of junior forward Andy Bohmbach and senior Tom Gorowsky. Both players have been in obscurity for most of their careers, getting most of their ice time only when injuries or national teams pull their fellow Badgers off the ice.
But this season both Bohmbach and Gorowsky finally broke through, and started on the first line with junior co-captain and forward Blake Geoffrion Saturday night.
With the loss of senior co-captain and forward Ben Street to a knee injury, it will be imperative for upperclassmen like Gorowsky - who scored two goals in Saturday's victory - and Bohmbach to contribute.
If the upperclassmen can continue to set a solid example for the young players on the team, and the confidence can continue to grow, the Badgers can easily make up some ground over the next few weekends.
Throw in the second half of the schedule, which highly favors Wisconsin - eight home series as opposed to only three on the road - and the Badgers could be right back in the thick of things come WCHA Tournament time.
But be careful Crease Creatures. After all, you wouldn't want to get too confident.
If you think the Badgers still have what it takes to have a successful season, e-mail Nate at ncarey@wisc.edu.
