The University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team will open up the WCHA Final Five with a showdown with Minnesota State-Mankato on Thursday afternoon at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
This season marks the 14th time Wisconsin has advanced to the Final Five, but it will be it's last trip as it exits the WCHA for the Big Ten.
Head coach Mike Eaves knows that his team has a lot of work to do if they are to assure themselves a bid to the NCAA tournament. The only sure-fir scenario for the Badgers is winning three straight games and capturing the WCHA’s automatic bid to the tournament.
“That would give us the kind of for sure,” Eaves said. “The other scenario takes it out of our hands where we're going to need help. It's not an easy task at all, but it has been done.”
As tempting as it may be to look ahead, Eaves is well aware of the fact that his boys can’t win three games without winning the first one.
“Having that knowledge, having the discussion that we just had, we step back, we take a look at the big picture. Then we have to go back and we have to worry about Thursday's game. That's our next focus,” Eaves said. “We have to win Thursday, and then after we accomplish that hopefully then we look at Friday and then we look at Saturday.”
The Badgers have continued their run of winning hockey that began at the beginning of December. The Cardinal and White are 18-5-4 since December 1 and 7-3 in their last 10 games. While that incredible stretch has put UW in the NCAA picture, they have made little headway in the pairwise rankings, the formula that helps determine which teams receive at-large bids to college hockey’s big dance.
Despite the struggles to lock down an at-large bid, Eaves believes that his squad has done a good job of keeping their noses to the grindstone.
“I think the mindset was pretty much laid in cement going through that first ten games in terms of how we are mentally and so the kids know they're playing well. They have a confidence level that is good to see,” Eaves said. “And again it's about what we can do Thursday afternoon against Mankato. We have to do that part first.”
Wisconsin split its season series with Minnesota State with each team sweeping at the others building. Eaves knows that the Mavericks will present a challenge.
“First of all, they're well coached. I think Mike (Hastings) has gone in there, and they clearly have a plan. They play to that plan. And part of that plan is that they play very hard together,” Eaves said. “And, A, playing hard gives you a chance to win. And, B, when you play together, hard, it makes it tougher to beat them.”
He added that, much like his own team, coach Hastings and company are led by the man between the pipes.
“I think the other thing that comes to mind is their goaltending. The young man had a phenomenal year and kind of leads that charge for that team. He gives them a boost. He gives them confidence when he makes the big saves that he needs to do.”
Though it is now or never for the Badgers, Eaves also wants his boys to enjoy what they’ve accomplished.
“You could feel it in the locker room after Saturday's game, the fact, the statement was made we're going back to St. Paul. And for the guys that have been there, that's really exciting, to be on that stage and that environment,” Eaves said.
“It's a great hockey environment. We're going to a city that really embraces hockey. And the building will be packed. We'll be right in the eye of the storm. And the way you're treated, the level of play, it's all what you do all that summer work for, all the stuff that you put up all year, all the injuries, have a chance to be on the stage.”
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