Friday night:  After sleepwalking through a defensive first period, UW
stepped things up  to win convincingly against the Wildcats.  Kirk
Daubenspeck, showing a lot better confidence than he has recently, put in a
solid game and would have had a shutout if not for a late turnover that led
to a clean 2-on-1 goal. Final score 4-1 Badgers.
 
Saturday night: UW didn't sleepwalk through the first period this time.
Lots of chances and lots of shots ended up yielding no goals for Bucky.
This led to frustration by the Badgers and confidence for Northern. A quick
power play goal for NMU started the second, and Dieter Cochan, who has had
a lot of problems vs. UW historically, put in a solid performance to keep
UW out of the net. NMU capitalized on some UW mistakes, and their defense
kept everything up against the boards, limiting quality shots. The Saturday
night hex was in force as well, as the Badgers missed at least three nearly
open nets. The only solace for Badger fans was Bucky Badger teasing the
mutant-from-another-planet fan from Northern sitting in the upper deck.
(Among this fan's bag of tricks was a one-man "percussion stick" and custom
undies reading "Go Cats Go" to moon the crowd with.) Final score 4-1
Wildcats.
 
As has been noted, the Badgers face a tough schedule the rest of the way
out, with only a home series vs. UAA considered "easy."  What perhaps
hasn't been noted is that the Badgers are famous for coming together near
the end, and I expect them to surprise some teams and finish as high as
fourth in the WCHA. UND should recall what happened during the last two
games vs. UW at Grand Forks...  The Badgers's freshman line (Reinprecht,
Kuk, Siren) is really improving, and for once we have a solid power play.
We're not the cream this year by any stretch, but it would be a mistake for
the Denvers, NoDaks. and St. Clouds to count their four points vs. the
Badgers yet...
 
 
-==-John R. [log in to unmask] Chem. Dept-==-
                 --- "When in doubt, roll!" ---
 
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