After an embarrassing 8-1 loss last weekend in Minnesota, the Wisconsin men's hockey team (4-15-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Organization, 10-19-4 overall) came back to home ice and played with an intensity unseen so far this season. It had been a tough week for the team, but they proved that they could come back, tallying three conference points after a tie and a victory against St. Cloud State (10-9-4, 14-11-4.)
Friday night's game started off slowly. The Huskies got on the board first, one minute into the second period, when the puck bounced off of a Badger defenseman past sophomore goalie Bernd Bruckler. Junior wing Rene Bourque evened things up later in the period. The Badgers took the lead early in the third on a power-play goal by senior captain wing Brad Winchester. But the lead would not last as St. Cloud's sophomore wing Mike Doyle slapped the puck into the net off of a great centering pass. That would prove to be the final tally of the night as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
\I really think everybody took a piece of the pie tonight and contributed. That may be the best play we've gotten all year,"" Head Coach Mike Eaves said.
One of those contributors was senior wing Erik Jensen, who was benched the previous three games. Jensen came away with a goal and an assist over the weekend. Moreover, the team's leader in penalty minutes proved that he can get out on the ice and make big hits without taking a penalty.
""I had a little something to show for coach because he benched me the last three games, so I just wanted to go out there and play hard and do the little things to help the team win,"" Jensen said.
Saturday was a whole new game and things started off quickly. St. Cloud took the lead almost two minutes into the first after Bruckler was knocked back into his net while holding the puck. UW came back only 30 seconds later when Jensen scored off of a rebound.
The Huskies notched two more goals in the second and the Badgers added one more. Less than two minutes into the third, senior defenseman Brian Fahey took a pass and blasted the puck by senior goalie Jake Moreland. With the game tied 3-3 with one minute to go, Bourque took a pass on the breakaway and beat Moreland one-on-one for his second goal of the weekend, this time the game winner.
It was the first time this year that the Badgers have won when they were behind heading into the third period. They did so by playing determined offense and physical defense.
""Work ethic and physical play ... is something that coach has harped on all week and we made a point of emphasis for coming into this weekend,"" Fahey said.
Eaves has stressed all year that this team was going to work hard and play its best hockey in March. If UW can play with the same intensity that was seen this weekend, they could be the spoiler when it comes to WCHA tournament time.
