The Matchup: No. 14 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Saint Cloud State
When: Friday March 8, Saturday March 9
Where: Veterans Memorial Coliseum (7.903)- Madison, Wis.
Ice Sheet: 200' x 85'
TV: Both games on Fox Sports Wisconsin and tape delayed on Wisconsin Channel at 10 p.m.
Radio: WIBA-1310 AM
All-Time Series: Wisconsin leads 43-32-9
Last Meeting: SCSU 2, UW 1 (2/4/2012)- Two third period goals helped the Huskies secure a sweep of the Badgers. Frankie Simonelli tallied the lone goal for the Badgers.
About the Huskies:
Record: 20-13-1 (17-8-1 WCHA, 35 points)
Head Coach: Bob Motzko – 8th year at SCSU, 157-122-35
Notable: The Huskies can clinch the WCHA regular season title outright with a win and a Minnesota loss or tie on Friday night.
Statistics:
Points: Drew LeBlanc – 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists)
Goals: Jonny Brodzinski – 17 goals
Assists: Drew LeBlanc- 33 assists
Save Pct.:Ryan Faragher – .913
GAA: Ryan Faragher- 2.36 gaa
About the Badgers:
Record: 16-11-7 (12-7-7 WCHA, 31 points)
Head Coach: Mike Eaves, 11th season – 225-165-51 record
Notable: The Badgers are 0-5-1 in their last six meetings with SCSU. Their last win over the Huskies came back on March 27, 2010 in the West Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament. UW went on to a national runner-up finish that season.
Statistics:
Points: Michael Mersch – 32 points (20 goals, 12 assists)
Goals: Michael Mersch – 20 goals
Assists: Derek Lee – 18 assists
Save Pct.: Joel Rumpel – .932
GAA: Joel Rumpel – 1.89 gaa
Quick analysis: There was an understandable level of skepticism when UW announced that the final WCHA season in the history of the program would take place at the Coliseum.
But, the feelings of nostalgia come rushing back when one takes time to reflect on what this series means in the grand scheme of things.
With a sweep and some help, the Badgers could take the WCHA regular season championship. Three points would clinch home ice in the league playoffs, while fewer points and some help would also do the trick.
It is only fitting that such an important and historical series take place in a building that has played host to so many important moments in the history of the program.
Veterans Memorial Coliseum was the home for Wisconsin hockey from 1967 to 1998. The Badgers last played there in the first round of the 2005 WCHA Playoffs. The Cardinal and White beat Alaska-Anchorage 2-1 in the best-of-three series.
As good as the Badgers are feeling coming off a crucial sweep on the road against Nebraska-Omaha, accumulating the necessary points will not be an easy task.
The Huskies come into this weekend’s series in control of their own destiny in the race for the MacNaughton Cup. There are several scenarios were SCSU can claim the honor out-right. The most simple is a win coupled with a Minnesota loss or tie.
The SCSU offensive attack is fairly balanced. Five different players have recorded double digit totals in goals and assists this season and seven different players have tallied 20 points or more.
Regardless of the opponent or the implications of the series, the Badgers’ approach to the weekend must remain constant. Dictating the tempo and minimizing the opponent’s quality scoring chances will be the key.
If UW can control those two factors and continue to receive solid goaltending, it’s hard not to see them having some success. Stealing three points will be possible but against a quality foe, it cannot be a forgone conclusion.
Prediction: Friday: UW-3, SCSU 2. Saturday: SCSU 3, UW 1.
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