Wisconsin Hockey, Vol II: Rebuild, Refresh, and Renew!

[gwhinwi]

Polls are out.

UW is #18.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/

[Timothy A]

Through 8 games the badgers have given up the least amount of goals in big ten play. One less than Penn St. Tied for most goals scored.

The trend is fantastic. Both goalies are on top of their game right now. It was awesome to bee Matt get the win after those kinda flukey goals. Now they need to take care of business with MSU.

[MadCityRich]

Polls are out.

UW is #18.

http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBWwbzS-l0M

[MadCityRich]

The trend is fantastic. Both goalies are on top of their game right now. It was awesome to bee Matt get the win after those kinda flukey goals. Now they need to take care of business with MSU.

Good call. I preferred Berry from the start, but the new staff has proven that's why I'm not a coach. The 'tenders are pushing each other and that makes them better! The D didn't even look too bad, but they seemed to run out of gas in the 3rd of game #2. Overall, this is looking so good. I was hoping this would happen this year, but who really knew?

I'm seeing posters on other boards who aren't really hockey fans wondering how they became so good all of a sudden, so the "not so much hockey fans" are talking!

Bandwagoners welcome, but you gotta sit in the back, *****es!

[BuB]

Really think that this weekend will say a lot about this team's growth. We are playing an inferior team and should get some results - but on the road things will be more difficult. Can they keep the same focus and not get complacent? These guys haven't been in this situation before - and least not the last few years.

Regardless - what a situation this team finds itself in at this point. Very exciting! When the Non-Hockey Badger Fans at work start talking UW Hockey, I know things are turning around.

[DPlaya]

It is interesting that Eaves used to talk about the huge roster providing competition, yet the same guys played night after night. This staff has gotten every player involved and done a good job of having guys make big contributions when they get them into the lineup. I think competition only works if there is some hope you are actually going to get to play in a game. At the very least, this staff has a really good feel for the players involved and when they are playing well and ready to contribute.

[WiscTJK]

It is interesting that Eaves used to talk about the huge roster providing competition, yet the same guys played night after night. This staff has gotten every player involved and done a good job of having guys make big contributions when they get them into the lineup. I think competition only works if there is some hope you are actually going to get to play in a game. At the very least, this staff has a really good feel for the players involved and when they are playing well and ready to contribute.

The fourth line is the perfect example swapping in guys left and right and they have been one of the most consistent lines the last 4-5 games. When they get in they are motivated to stay there and I like that. TG has a shown he will make large swaps in forward lines as necessary to get production.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?

[bucky15]

Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?

Kunin. Pure goal scorer and leadership.

[bucky15]

Really think that this weekend will say a lot about this team's growth. We are playing an inferior team and should get some results - but on the road things will be more difficult. Can they keep the same focus and not get complacent? These guys haven't been in this situation before - and least not the last few years.

Regardless - what a situation this team finds itself in at this point. Very exciting! When the Non-Hockey Badger Fans at work start talking UW Hockey, I know things are turning around.

I agree, if this team wants to solidify that they are for real. A sweep this weekend is a must. No slip ups against an inferior team.

[KaMiGo]

I agree, if this team wants to solidify that they are for real. A sweep this weekend is a must. No slip ups against an inferior team.

I worry about what the emotional toll from Saturday's game will be.

They played a solid game for 58 minutes and were probably feeling really good about themselves.
Then they let in 2 goals to tie the game and things probably got pretty low.
Then you get the OT winner on a slightly controversial goal (I think it was a good goal) and your emotions rocket back up.

Add in the fact that you couldn't score during a 5 min PP with 2 min of that being 5 x 3...

I'm just not sure what to expect from the guys on Friday. I hope they come out with the intensity to match how well they have been playing in general, but I could see it being a horrible first period.

[bucky15]

I worry about what the emotional toll from Saturday's game will be.

They played a solid game for 58 minutes and were probably feeling really good about themselves.
Then they let in 2 goals to tie the game and things probably got pretty low.
Then you get the OT winner on a slightly controversial goal (I think it was a good goal) and your emotions rocket back up.

Add in the fact that you couldn't score during a 5 min PP with 2 min of that being 5 x 3...

I'm just not sure what to expect from the guys on Friday. I hope they come out with the intensity to match how well they have been playing in general, but I could see it being a horrible first period.

I view this from the opposite end, if they lost that game after being up 2-0 late that would be quite a gut punch. The season could have started to turn to what we thought this team was going to be this year. They held it together and ended up taking care of business. It would have been easy to have a let down after those two goals. They showed a lot of character for not packing it in when things got really challenging.

I think they come out flying Friday night, rolling 4 lines.

Captain America guides them to a sweep in East Lansing. 4-3 and 5-2

[IndianaBadger1995]

Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?

Kerdiles. Kunin may have the shot but Kerdiles dictated play. I'd say Kerdiles was the best forward on a team that featured Zengerle, Barnes, and Mersch. Not so sure Kunin would be the best of that bunch in terms of college puck though I think Kunin has the best chance to make the NHL with the way he plays.

Side note: I went to a game earlier this year with a friend whom prior to this year had not gone to a badger hockey game. During one of the Wisconsin powerplays I said out loud "we need a Kunin one timer" and about 3 seconds later Kunin scored a one timer from the point. My friend's reaction was priceless and now every time I see that friend he says "Kunin for the one time!" endlessly. Been to some games (NMU series, Minnesota series) and I explained the rules as it went and he's really picking it up. Think he's hooked to Badger hockey now Fun little story to share with you guys.

[KaMiGo]

During one of the Wisconsin powerplays I said out loud "we need a Kunin one timer" and about 3 seconds later Kunin scored a one timer from the point.

To me it feels like that is all that he does on the PP. He just kind of sits there at the top of the circle waiting for the other 4 guys to do enough work to clear out a passing lane so that someone can send it cross-ice to him so that he can rip a shot off. Don't get me wrong, it seems to be working well. But you have to think that teams are going to figure that out at some point. Stick a body on Luke and deal with the rest like a 4-on-3.

[Timothy A]

Who is a better player at the same point in their careers (just past halfway in their sophomore years) Kerdiles or Kunin?

Kerdiles seemed to set up more plays and was more creative, whereas Kunin is like the hired gun, hard to compare but I'd take Kerdiles.

[KaMiGo]

A couple of very entertaining games gives UW the split, all things considered I'll take that.

Wisconsin DOUBLES the votes that they are getting, but to 2 now! receiving votes, 26th
RPI steady at 27
PWR bumps up to 2t (tied with Clarkson and MTU)
Team O, 3.65 - 6th
Team D, 3.30 - 49th
PP, 27/120 22.50% - 8th
PK, 86/99 86.9% - 8th

Next we get the road series against OSU, Thursday in Ohio, Saturday at The Garden.
Wisconsin DOUBLES the votes that they are getting, but to 2 now! receiving votes, 26th
RPI steady at 27
PWR bumps up to 2t (tied with Clarkson and MTU)
Team O, 4.23 - 2nd
Team D, 2.77 - 28th
PP, 24/92 26.09% - 2nd
PK, 75/97 77.3% - 52nd

I think the key focus that the stats show is that UW needs to put up a lot of shots as early as they can. UW is 4-0-0 when leading after 1 and OSU is 0-1-3 when trailing. This is probably easier said than done...UW has a goal differential of -8 (16 to 28) in the first while OSU has a differential of +17 (33 to 16) .
If UW is able to get a lead, they need to keep the foot on the gas pedal and get separation. UW is 4-3 in 1-goal games, while OSU is 3-0.

The formula is simple, get early shots that lead to early goals and maximize the PP opportunities; but then again you could probably say that about any Team A facing Team B.

Maybe G2O were reading this...3 first period goals for, 0 first period goals allowed. That is always a good indicator.

After a solid away/neutral sweep of Ohio State, here is where things stand:

🎵Guess who's back? Back again? Wisconsin's back, tell a friend. 🎵 https://t.co/XM4jeNxChH

— Crease Creatures (@CreaseCreatures) January 30, 2017

Wisconsin gets 93 votes, good enough to get to 18th place in the latest poll
RPI climbs to 18
PWR also climbs to 18
Team O, 3.59 - 7th
Team D, 3.14 - 43rd
PP, 27/124 21.77% - 10th
PK, 91/105 86.7% - 7th

Next up is the return trip to Michigan State. Sparty has been struggling with just 1 win in all of December/January. Last time we saw them, it was 5-1, 5-1 wins for the good guys.
MSU shapes up like this:
No votes in the poll
RPI - 49
PWR - 49
Team O, 2.24- 51st
Team D, 3.82 - 57th
PP, 17/110 15.45% - 43rd
PK, 73/101 72.3% - 59th (just barely ahead of last place Brown)

On paper, this should be an easy match-up.
UW is +10 in total goals, MSU is -34 in total goals. UW is +196 in total shots, MSU is -139 in total shots. We shoot the puck more, and get more goals because of it.
In conference play, UW scores 4.00 per game with MSU allowing 3.75 / UW allows 2.50 with MSU scoring 2.00.

At this point, anything short of a sweep would be disappointing, but then again this team has been more than capable of disappointing fans recently. Call me cautiously optimistic. Stats and trends make me feel like a weekend of 4-2, 3-1 would be expected.

[KaMiGo]

In "getting way too far ahead of ourselves" news...they have UW in the latest Bracketology

LINK

We are tied for first in the B1G and get in on some sort of tie-breaker.

I think my head is going to explode now...

[Timothy A]

In "getting way too far ahead of ourselves" news...they have UW in the latest Bracketology

LINK

We are tied for first in the B1G and get in on some sort of tie-breaker.

I think my head is going to explode now...

No Shiit! I had not even remotely thought of the possibility of UW making the tourney. There's a long way to go, but the lads are on pace to put enough meat in the freezer to make it through winter.

[GBBadger14]

In "getting way too far ahead of ourselves" news...they have UW in the latest Bracketology

LINK

We are tied for first in the B1G and get in on some sort of tie-breaker.

I think my head is going to explode now...

FWIW, tiebreakers are...
1) Conference wins
2) Head to head
3) Goal differential within the matchup (UW wins 8-7)

[gwhinwi]

The mere thought of this team making the NCAA tourney fills me with joy.

They have been an exciting team to watch night in, night out and I want them to keep going for as long as they can.