HOUGHTON, Mich.— With the season quickly heading down the stretch, every point is critical for teams jockeying for position in the WCHA.
The No. 8 Wisconsin men's hockey team is no different.
As the Badgers try to separate themselves from the cluster of teams in the middle of the conference, taking advantage of games like their two this past weekend against last place Michigan Tech are key.
The Huskies (1-16-1 WCHA, 3-20-3 overall) didn't go quietly, giving the Badgers a hard-fought, well-played series. But Wisconsin used clutch play in the third period both nights to earn the series sweep, and take four points away from their trip to Houghton, winning 4-2 Friday, and 3-1 in the series finale Saturday.
In the series opener Friday, a goal from senior Podge Turnbull put UW up 1-0 after the first. But in the second period, Michigan Tech came roaring out of the gates, getting two goals off of rebounds from junior forward Alex MacLeod and sophomore forward Evan Witt in the first two and a half minutes to take a 2-1 lead.
Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves believed that his team made the mistake of underestimating the Huskies after the first period, which led to the Tech comeback.
""After the first we wrote ‘don't get lulled' on the board in the locker room,"" Eaves said. ""But, sometimes with young men, you don't know if they're listening. We did get lulled and [Michigan Tech] took advantage of that opportunity.""
""This time of year we can't afford to let that happen, we're fighting to put hay in the barn, and they know that looking at the standings,"" he said.
Whatever lull the Badgers found themselves in at the start of the period, they quickly snapped out of it and regained a lead they wouldn't again relinquish.
Wisconsin got two quick goals just 29 seconds apart from junior defenseman Jake Gardiner and freshman forward Mark Zengerle to regain the lead at 3-2 heading into the second intermission.
""We changed the lineup a bit in the second and that seemed to spark us,"" Eaves said. ""We did a good job of responding after the two goals of grabbing the momentum back, but it was still anyone's game at that point.""
It was freshman forward Tyler Barnes that made sure the game would end in Wisconsin's favor, sealing the win with a second chance goal off his own rebound in the third to put the finishing touch on the 4-2 win.
The series finale Saturday followed a similar pattern. The Badgers had a 2-0 lead thanks to a first period goal from Zengerle and a second period, short handed breakaway tally from senior forward Patrick Johnson. But, a goal from Tech freshman forward Ryan Furne put the score at 2-1 heading into the third. For the second night in a row, it was anybody's game.
In the third period the Badgers stepped up again to seal the win and earn the series sweep. Senior captain Sean Dolan put the Badgers up 3-1 with a great individual effort, and sophomore defender Justin Schultz provided the dagger with a laser from the point.
Dolan's game winning goal snapped a 14-game scoring drought.
""It is a huge monkey off my back,"" he said. ""It was awesome to be able to help the team in that way and provide a huge turning point in the game.""
After the game Saturday Johnson praised the team's effort.
""Obviously we took a step backward on Friday, got the win which was nice, but we weren't playing our best game,"" he said. ""We had to come back tonight and simplify and keep it to the details. We did that tonight.""
""We were a much better team tonight,"" Eaves added. ""The message was given yesterday and they responded all night long.""
The Badgers will again find themselves on the road two weekends from now when the team travels south to Nebraska-Omaha.
