This is where the No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team (11-1-2 WCHA, 16-2-2 overall) truly has the opportunity to prove itself.
The grueling second half of the season, which includes eight straight weekends of play, begins in earnest tonight, when the Badgers visit the No. 5 Colorado College Tigers (9-4-1, 17-6-1) in what looks to be an intense conference match-up.
It was only two months ago when the two clubs met in Madison, where then-No. 5 UW tied and knocked off then-No. 1 CC in a physical weekend series. With only seconds remaining in the finale and UW holding a 3-0 lead, Badger senior captain Adam Burish delivered a blow to CC junior Scott Thauwald that cost him a one-game disqualification.
Badger head coach Mike Eaves said in his weekly press conference Monday that he expected the intensity level to ratchet up a few notches after the events that took place in the Kohl Center in early November. He said that should not include reprisal, however.
'The truth of it is, it'll probably heighten the intensity of the series, but college hockey and the rules and the way they are, for retribution to take place on the ice ?? you've got the No. 1 and No. 6 teams playing in the country and there's a lot at stake, and to be foolish would be very counterproductive for either team,' Eaves said.
The hit notwithstanding, there are already enough storylines for Friday and Saturday night. The second-place Tigers trail the Badgers by five points in the WCHA standings and are riding a four-game winning streak. UW will have to be mindful of the conference's two best scorers'seniors Brett Sterling (37 points) and Marty Sertich (33).
The Badgers, who have the best scoring defense in the WCHA (1.45 goals per game), have won three straight and 10 of their last 11. They look to add to their unbeaten road record this season (7-0-1), a feat that Eaves attributes to the experience of his more seasoned players.
'The trials and tribulations that we've gone through with this group, especially with our seniors now, they've had three years of some pretty tough road trips and battling through some things,' Eaves said.
The elevation in Colorado Springs also adds an element into game preparation for the Badgers, who have not played since their top finish in the Badger Hockey Showdown two weeks ago.
'There's a couple things we can do physically to, you know, help ourselves,' Eaves said. 'But basically, I think in our own minds, we have to have the mindset of being intelligent and not getting caught too long on the ice.'
Skille makes his mark
Forward Jack Skille, who heads the Badger freshmen class in scoring at 10 points, returns to the ice tonight for the Badgers after participating in the World Junior Championship in Vancouver.
Skille scored the game-winner in the team's first game, an 11-2 victory over Norway. The Madison native also scored the lone U.S. goal in a 5-1 loss to Russia in the semifinals. Finland defeated the U.S. in the bronze medal game.
