Confidence'or lack thereof 'is the buzzword right now surrounding the No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team (13-5-2 WCHA, 18-6-2 overall).
The team's morale was a heavy topic of questioning following UW's two losses this weekend to Minnesota, which pushed the Badgers' season-long losing streak to four games, all of which have come at home in front of sell-out crowds.
The way head coach Mike Eaves and the players see it, the past two weeks have been a major period of adjustment for the team after junior goalie Brian Elliott, statistically the best in the country at his position, went down with a leg injury. Freshman Shane Connelly has started the past four games for the Badgers.
'We're still dealing with it,' Eaves said of Elliott's absence. 'What we created with Brian was built over time. There's trust, there's confidence that Brian created with his teammates, and we're trying to get that created with Shane.'
Elliott'an early candidate for the Hobey Baker Award for college hockey's top player'started the first 22 games of the season for the Badgers. His 1.40 goals against average and .944 save percentage top the nation, as does his win percentage (.864).
It is what the stats do not show, though, that the Badgers say is mostly missed.
'I think losing Brian Elliott, that's a big impact,' said junior Robbie Earl, who ranks second on the team in points. 'He was part of that leadership role. That's tough to deal with.'
Junior Andrew Joudrey added that Elliott is 'one player that's an important key to our team, but we need as a team to step up ... just play within ourselves, play as a team and keep building our trust in Shane.'
In his first four collegiate starts, Connelly has not enjoyed the offensive support that Elliott did earlier when the Badgers were playing their best hockey of the season. In Elliott's 22 starts, the Badgers averaged 3.7 goals. In Connelly's four games, that figure dropped to 1.8.
Danny Irmen, a junior and assistant captain for the Gophers, had nothing but praise for Connelly after Friday's game.
'Elliott's obviously one of the best goaltenders in the nation,' said Irmen, who has seen both goalies in action this season. 'But their backup ... you know, he's up there with Elliott. He's a great goaltender.'
Eaves said that, under the circumstances, Connelly has played well and will only get better as he sees more time on the ice.
'We just didn't drop him in the deep end of the pool, we dropped him in the Pacific Ocean, and he's surviving,' Eaves said. 'What I like is Shane has gotten better. His game has gone to another level.'
Freshmen watch
Not to be overlooked this past weekend was the play of other freshmen on UW's roster. Jack Skille logged a goal and an assist Friday night, giving him a total of 13 points this season.
'Jack played with great energy,' Eaves said. 'I like where he's going in terms of his understanding of the game that he needs to play. He's playing more intelligently. His gifts are being an unbelievable athlete physically 'his speed, his size, his shot.'
Forward Ben Street also had a goal and an assist in the Friday game, pushing his point total to eight. 'His ability to understand the game is very good,' Eaves said of Street. 'He wants more responsibility, and he's playing like he should get more. That's a nice thing to see.'
