As the season continues to wind down, the No. 13 Wisconsin men's hockey team finds itself with plenty left to fight for. With only two weekends left in the regular season, it is crunch time for the Badgers as they attempt to lock up a home playoff series and build their résumé for a NCAA tournament bid.
""We just have to win, that is what it all comes down to,"" senior forward and captain Sean Dolan said. ""It's clutch time now, every game really does matter. I know as a senior I want to play two more weekends at home.""
After last Saturday's 3-3 tie with Minnesota, sophomore defenseman Justin Schultz made it clear his goal for this season is to lead this team back to the national title game and win it. Schultz says the Badgers are fully capable of accomplishing his goal this year.
""I think we have all the skill in the world to make it there,"" Schultz said. ""But we have to find a way to win the close games and we haven't really done that yet this season. Against those top teams we have to really dig down and get that win.""
Schultz described the rest of this season as ""do or die"" and that starts this weekend when the Badgers head north for a road series with St. Cloud State.
The Huskies (8-12-4 WCHA, 12-15-5 overall) aren't the same caliber team that contended for the WCHA title last season, but according to Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves, their record shouldn't fool you—this is still a very skilled St. Cloud team.
""They were struggling but they are playing some pretty good hockey,"" Eaves said. ""They have caught fire here lately and are playing at a much higher level and seem more cohesive as a team.""
Eaves gave credit to St. Cloud sophomore goaltender Mike Lee as a key in the Huskies' turnaround this year, saying Lee ""can be as good as any in our league."" The Badgers know Lee well, having matched up with him on multiple occasions last season, including a 37-save shutout at the WCHA Final Five.
""We have to get in his face early and often,"" Dolan said. ""We have to put pucks on net and at his feet so he has to control his rebounds. We just need to be getting in his grill all night and making him uncomfortable.""
If the Badgers' road trip to St. Cloud is going to be a successful one, they need to get their power play going. The power play has been key for UW all season and is the top ranked unit in the WCHA with a 23 percent success rate. However, during their current 0-3-1 stretch, Wisconsin is 4-for-26 with the man advantage, a success rate of only 15.4 percent.
""For us, I think it is just a matter of getting a few out of the way,"" freshman forward Mark Zengerle said. ""If we can get a few on the power play with a garbage goal or something it will help us relax.""
""We need to take more shots, you're not going to score if you don't shoot the puck,"" Schultz added. ""When you put pucks on net anything can happen, you get shots on net that will create something.""
Overall the goal for this weekend is clear: two wins.
""There are goals out there: home ice advantage and the NCAA tournament"" Dolan said. ""And that all is within reach. We just have to win.""
