After gaining only one point on their disappointing road trip to Anchorage, the Badgers return to the Kohl Center this weekend, against North Dakota. North Dakota is heading into the series with a 4-5-1Western Collegiate Hockey Association record and is coming off rare back-to-back losses at home against Minnesota State-Mankato.
The Badgers came out flat on Friday night against Anchorage, losing 4-1 to the Seawolves, due in large part to lax play on defense.
Senior co-captain Kent Davyduke remarked that on Friday night, the Badgers put forth their \worst effort in my four years at Wisconsin.""
Head Coach Jeff Sauer said the four goals given up on Friday night should not be shouldered by junior goalie Scott Kabotoff, who despite the four goals against him, is still seventh in the WCHA in goals against average with 2.24 and fifth in the WCHA with a .936 save percentage.
Sauer said Kabotoff ""has kept us in a few games we probably should have lost.""
In addition, Sauer pointed out that a lack of consistent play and chemistry were the culprits in a few early-season stumbling blocks, including Friday night's loss. On Saturday the Badgers came out and skated to a 3-3 tie, managing to squeak out a point against a scrappy Anchorage. Senior Matt Hussey recorded his sixth and seventh goals of the season in Saturday's tie.
The Badgers must avoid a repeat of their flat performance in Anchorage as they face UND this weekend. Center Davyduke noted that ""Friday night we have to set the pace early and play a strong first 10 minutes and get the breaks going our way by making plays.""
When asked about preparing for a rivalry match up, Head Coach Jeff Sauer explained that, ""It's a whole lot easier for the guys to get going for a series like this versus a school like Alaska-Anchorage or Brown. The green-and-white sweaters of [U]ND make the guys hit a little harder, I think.""
This weekend's games promise to be a series between two well-matched teams fighting for fourth place in the WCHA standings as well as bragging rights. Davyduke said that regardless of the rivalry, this series is important.
""Going into this weekend, both of us are tied up, so whoever wins this weekend gets a leg up, and that's what matters now,"" he said.
UW and the UND are in a four-way log jam for fourth place with Colorado College and Minnesota State-Mankato.
The Badgers are looking to gain some momentum before winter recess. Look for the Badgers to try to take control of the game early with their size and speed. Hussey will try to stay hot, after the series in Anchorage. The Badgers lead the all-time series 68-48-9 and the series in Madison 34-18-3.
