Inside the Wisconsin men's hockey team's locker room, one of the goals listed in white lettering against red backdrop is WCHA Final Five."" To get there, the Badgers will have to advance past a first-round, best-of-three series on the road this weekend against St. Cloud State.
Coming off a bye week in which the Badgers were overtaken by the Huskies and Minnesota State for home ice in round one of the conference postseason, Wisconsin is feeling fresh for its second visit to National Hockey Center in three weeks. In its last series of the regular season, UW split with St. Cloud State, leaving the possibility that the Badgers would open on the road.
Wisconsin finished one point behind the Huskies but has had success against them, scoring three wins in four games.
Explaining that run of success against the Badgers upcoming opponent, junior goaltender Shane Connelly said it was a matter of coming out ready to play.
""I don't think it's anything that they do,"" he said after practice this week. ""I just think that we executed a little bit more in three of the four games. It's an interesting matchup.
""They're a more high-end, skilled type of team and we're more get-it-in-the corners and kind of grind-it-out a little bit. So it's a little contrast. And it's whoever brings their best that day has won the game. We've come out ahead.""
Not by much, though. Each game against the Huskies has been closely contested. None of the games have been decided by more than one goal.
""We know what they like to do and they know what we like to do,"" said Connelly, who will be making his first start in the postseason. ""So, no surprises on either side. It's just down to execution and discipline.""
The Badgers came to practice Monday somewhat glum because they would not be playing the first-round at the Kohl Center, where they were 10-6-2 this season. But, according to the players and head coach Mike Eaves, the mood has swung and the team is fully focused.
""Their attention level is pretty acute right now,"" Eaves said.
For its quote of the week, UW has chosen, ""Playoffs. It's the best time to play,"" because, as Eaves told the team Tuesday, ""everything is right in front of you.""
For the Badgers, all that matters at the moment is their showdown with St. Cloud State. Should the Badgers win the series on the road - where they are a vastly-improved 4-3-3 since their three-week break in December - they will advance to the Final Five in St. Paul, Minn.
""We have lots to play for and this is the fun time of the year,"" Eaves said.
St. Cloud State put up some of the best offensive numbers in the WCHA this season, finishing third in total offense with three goals per game, and first in power play conversion rate, at 23 percent.
Indicative of their offensive firepower, the Huskies have the top three point scorers in the conference. Sophomore forward Ryan Lasch finished the regular season with 48 points. Freshman Garrett Roe and sophomore Andreas Nodl each had 41.
""They're a really skilled, transitional team,"" said freshman forward Kyle Turris, the Badgers' own leader in points this season with 31.
Even though the Badgers will not be hosting in the league playoffs, they still have a chance to play another game at the Kohl Center this season. One of the four regional brackets in the NCAA Tournament will be played in Madison. UW has two different ways of getting into the tournament.
The winner of the WCHA Final Five gets an automatic bid. Otherwise, the Badgers would have to be chosen by the NCAA Selection Committee. USCHO.com's PairWise system, which uses virtually the same criteria as the committee to determine the 16 qualifiers, has the Badgers ranked No. 13.
UW knows that two wins on the road against St. Cloud State can only improve its standing and help its chances.
""I like our chances,"" Connelly said when asked whether he thought the Badgers would make the NCAA Tournament. ""I like this team, especially for the playoffs. A week off, we're rested, and we've had success against St. Cloud. So I like our chances of getting into the playoffs.
