The Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Boston College
Dates: Friday/Sunday, October 14/16 7/3 PM CT
Location: Kohl Center. Madison, Wisconsin
Ice Surface: 200’ X 100’
TV: Friday: Fox Sports Wisconsin. Sunday: None
Radio: Friday- WIBA-AM 1310. Sunday- WIBA-AM 1070
Video Stream: BTN2Go/WatchESPN
Audio Stream: Badgersportsnetwork.com (Free)
All-Time Series: 3-5-2 in the last five years
Last Meeting: Tie 3-3
About Boston College
Record: 1-1-0
Head Coach: Jerry York, 23rd Year (546-265-76)
Noteable: This is the first series of the season for Boston College. They opened the season with a shocking 2-1 loss to Air Force Academy. The Golden Eagles rebounded nicely with a solid 3-1 win over Denver. They are currently ranked #6 in the USCHO.com polls.
Stat Leaders:
Points: Austin Cangelosi (3)
Goals: Austin Cangelosi (3)
Assists: 2 tied at 2
Save Pct: Joe Woll (.955)
Goals Against Average: Joe Woll (1.51)
About Wisconsin
Record: 1-1-0
Head Coach: Tony Granato, 1st Season (1-1-0)
Notable: Badgers come into the home season opener with some momentum after a thrilling 6-5 win over Northern Michigan last Friday. Corbin McGuire, an unlikely offensive hero led the way for the Badgers. Wisconsin has also seen great play from freshman Trent Frederic, JD Greenway and Max Zimmer.
Stat Leaders:
Points: 3 tied at 3
Goals: Corbin McGuire (3)
Assists: JD Greenway (3)
Save Pct: Matt Jurusik (.837)
Goals Against Average: Matt Jurusik (4.08)
Quick Analysis:
This looks to be a very tough matchup for the Wisconsin Badgers as they take on the Boston College Golden Eagles this weekend at home.
While it is still early on in the season it looks like the Badgers achilles heel may be their questionable defense. After giving up 8 goals in just two games to Northern Michigan, the Badger’s defense will need to play much much better against a more talented Boston College team.
Matt Jurusik, who looks to be Granato’s starter as of now looked shaky in the first game with little improvement in the second. He had moments of brilliance but letting in five goals in a game is far from a good sign.
Of course, it is not all Jurusik’s fault for the five goals. Defensive mistakes led to multiple odd man rushes for Northern Michigan. These mistakes and lapses in judgement from Wisconsin’s defense will have to be non-existent if they want to pull of an upset in either of the games this weekend.
It may just be a bit too early for this Wisconsin team to expect no mistakes to be made. Wisconsin’s offense will have to keep them in this game but that is no easy task. Boston College has only allowed 3 goals over their two games this season and their goalie, Joe Woll is saving over 95 percent of the shots he sees.
Hopefully the Kohl Center crowd can hand Wisconsin a bit of an edge early on, they will undoubtedly need it.
Prediction:
Friday- Wisconsin 1 Boston College 4
Sunday- Wisconsin 2 Boston College 3
Tough home opener for the Badgers here. Badgers will need to play their best to avoid getting swept. Boston College is so solid at defense and Wisconsin still has too many question marks at defense to warrant picking them to win any of these games.
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