MTU continues a 4 game slump as it loses a critical game  to
Wisconsin 7-1.  This series was critical because it would
determine whether or not MTU gains home ice for the playoffs.
It is not to be this year despite a much improved team. The
following stats are from WZRK's play by play. Any errors are
mine.
 
MTU  0 1 0 - 1
UW    2 3 2 - 7
 
Goalie Saves:
 
MTU Caravaggio 10 12  8 - 30
UW  Daubenspeck 9   5  7 - 20
UW  Soper                     1 -  1
 
Scoring:
 
1st Period
UW Mike Strobel (Balkovic, Ragore) 9:02 ppg
UW Rafelsky (unassisted) 12:17 shg
 
2nd Period
MTU Savage (B. Peterson, J. Mikesch) 10:45 ppg
UW Williams  (assists unk) 14:08 ppg
UW Koch (Ragore, Bianchi) 15:19 ppg
UW Sanderson (Engelhart) 16:38
 
3rd Period
UW Ragore (Bianchi, Balkovic) 7:17 ppg
UW Tompkins (Sanderson, Carter) 11:53
 
I am not going through the penalties: the game had 45:
23 for MTU and 22 for UW. Too much leaning on the whistle.
 
The game was played close during the 1st period. Wisconsin got
two 5 hole shots on Caracaggio: the first by Mike Stroble in
the slot at 9:02 and the second by Rafelsky on a 2 on 1 breakaway.
 
MTU's Andre Savage took a blueline blast that rocketed into the
top right corner to give MTU a score and a possible come back.
Mike Williams got a goal on an MTU zone breakdown at 14:08.
The game was close until Koch's goal at 15:19 of the 2nd period.
Caravaggio had just successfully kicked out a shot to the corner.
However, MTU's defense, suspect all year, let Koch undefended
and clear  shot on Caravaggio. From this point on, MTU was
not in the game and UW could do what ever it wanted. Engelhart
brought the puck down and fed Sanderson who was coming down
on Caravaggio's right. Caravaggio successfully blocked the short
side but Sanderson took the long side and beat him on the glove.
 
The third continued the Badger rule of the Dane as Ragore took
a Sanderson flip across the crease and put it in on the open
side as Caravaggio had not body parts to put between
the puck and the net. Tompkins finished off the scoring as again
Sanderson was the play maker by laying the puck out in front
to an open Tompkins.
 
This was not a good showing for MTU. Their confidence broke and
they were never able to regain the edge.  Daubenspeck while
never terribly busy was there when needed. Wisconsin defense
was also very successful in preventing MTU from getting grade A
shots and was beating MTU to the puck on rebounds.  This is was
a recipe for Husky stew as MTU became frustrated. In the other
zone, MTU was unable to return the favor as Wisconsin had men
open and found them.  MTU's defense is not working with the
goalie either in preventing close and mid range shots or in
collecting and then moving rebounds.
 
Walt Olson
MTU