Baggot: Taking stock before conference play opens
November 22, 2015 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Tough schedule sets up Badgers for Big Ten play
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin men's hockey team has finished off the bulk of its non-league schedule, so now seems like a good time for a measurement.
The Badgers hit their second bye week of the season with a 3-5-4 overall record, a mark defined by a high degree of difficulty and, for the most part, growth.
Wisconsin foes are 45-21-9 (.660) overall. The only other Big Ten Conference schools with winning opponent records are Ohio State (25-19-5, .561) and Michigan (24-19-8, .549).
The Badgers have faced four teams that have shown up in the top 10 national rankings since the season began: Boston College, Boston University, Denver and North Dakota.
Wisconsin has taken on four of the top 15 offenses: BC, Denver, North Dakota and BU.
The Badgers have encountered four of the top 15 defenses: BC, North Dakota, Denver and Northern Michigan.
They also have played on the road against four opponents - BC, BU, North Dakota and Ferris State - with a combined home record of 17-4-3 (.771).
Since opening the season 0-3-3 - including one-sided losses at BC and BU - Wisconsin is 3-2-1 heading into its 20-game Big Ten schedule.
The Badgers get this week off before traveling to Michigan on Dec. 4 and 5 and Michigan State on Dec. 11 and 12.
Wisconsin associate head coach Luke Strand offered a succinct overview of the first 12 games.
"We have to have the confidence to know the best teams in the country are there and we can do it," he said of the difficult first-half schedule. "At the same time we have to know that if the performance balance of our entire group doesn't occur, it's a steep climb to get it done."
The last two series bring that thought into focus.
The Badgers sent a loud buzz around the college hockey world when they went on the road Nov. 6 and knocked off then-top-ranked North Dakota 3-1.
Two Fridays later, Wisconsin gave Denver all it could handle before settling for a 3-3 overtime draw.
But the Badgers were unable to finish either series with gusto. They were outshot 38-16 in a 3-1 loss to the Fighting Hawks Nov. 7 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and endured a 6-2 pounding at the hands of Denver on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.
"There was just a misfire in a lot of different areas," Strand said of the latest loss to Pioneers. "When they happen more than once, at more than one time, it was in the back of the net."
Until that setback to Denver, Wisconsin was 2-0-3 at home.
"We hadn't lost and it was a place we wanted to make sure we took care of," Strand said of home ice. "We let our guard down.
"Shame on us for not handling Friday as well as we should have. Now it's how we respond."
You can get someone's attention with a tap on the shoulder. It can also be done with a slap to the face. Strand said the Badgers felt a stinging blow last month when they dropped a 6-0 decision to BC and a 4-1 loss to BU.
"Were we ready to go out to BC and BU? Probably not in the big scope of it," he said. "But would we handle it better now? For sure."
The loss to Denver has a similar feel.
"It's how you react to it," Strand said. "The last time this occurred we found a way to respond. Now can we not only find a way to respond, but show more growth?"
Strand isn't a fan of having two weekends off in the span of three weeks. He said that while it's helped regarding some health issues, it tampers with the flow of preparation.
That didn't show up in the opener against Denver, but it seemed to be a factor in the series finale because playing back-to-back nights requires a specific mindset.
"I prefer the rhythm of playing and doing your part," Strand said.
Since that's out of anyone's control, Strand and Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves will go back to work this week trying to emphasize rest over rust.
Asked what area has seen the greatest improvement during the non-conference season and Strand pointed to freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik, who has started the last nine games and fashioned a 2.89 goals against average and 90.6 percent save ratio.
"I think he's gained the confidence of the group," Strand said.
Another area of upgrade, according to Strand, is "maybe people buying into what they need to do for the greater good of the whole group."
On the flip side, Strand said he's remains bothered by the fact the Badgers struggle to close games out. To wit, they have had the lead or been tied in the third period of nine games.
"Close isn't good enough," he said. "Can we find a way to finish someone off? Can we find a way to punch and counterpunch in a game where the momentum doesn't lag and it stays within our bench?"
Twenty of the remaining 22 games will come against Big Ten opponents. Strand said a subtle benefit comes from being able to breakdown similar opponents. For example, Michigan split a series with BU, while Michigan State was swept by Denver and lost to BC.
"It's a whole different focus," Strand said of the Big Ten. "We've taken some good steps here along the way, but that consistency needs to occur if you want to play your best hockey at the right time of the year."
