ZENT COMES OUT OF HIS OFFENSIVE SHELL....
 
[This report is based on the radio broadcasts of the games.  I decided not
to make the trip to Alaska....:-)  ]
 
Wisconsin's Jason Zent, who lately has been frustrated at his inability to
put the puck in the net (as well as his inability to be on Team USA),
finally broke the drought this weekend, tallying 3 goals as Wisconsin swept
University of Alaska-Anchorage at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage.  In general,
the Badgers were the better team 5-on-5, using the olympic-sized ice sheet
to their advantage with their greater speed and passing.  The games were
kept close by Alaska's ability to capitalize on power plays.
 
Friday: WI 5 UAA 4      A close game until the end.  Wisconsin would score,
and then UAA would respond, trading the first six goals of the game.
Andrew Shier, the #2 scorer in the WCHA, scored two of the Wisconsin goals
as the teams skated to a 3-3 tie after two periods.  Jason Zent capitalized
on a power play by slamming home a rebound off of a Kelly Fairchild shot
from the blue line.  Zent's second goal of the night was much prettier, as
he streaked down the right side, beat the defender, and flipped an
impossible backhand shot over the goalie, who was ready for him to cut
behind the net with a wraparound.  His sore wrist seems to be healing....
The Seawolves made it 5-4 with about a minute and a half to go, but good
Badger pressure and a stupid Alaska penalty kept the puck in the Alaska
defensive zone, and the Seawolves were never able to pull their goalie for
a last-minute flurry.
 
Saturday: WI 4 UAA 1    A much duller game, which seemed to have fewer
offensive chances by either team.  Shier and Zent both had goals to lead
Wisconsin to a 3-1 lead.  Once again, Wisconsin shut down the last-second
attempts of UAA, adding an empty net goal to ice the game.  An "ugly",
workmanlike win, but on the road, that can be the key to success.  The
Badgers are 4-2 at home, but 6-3-1 on the road, where they just seem to
work harder and not let victories slip away.
 
Going into the break, UW is now tied for first with Northern in the WCHA,
followed by Colorado College, who come out of the weekend with no points.
As the stats above imply, they have many home games left in their schedule,
and should make a good run at the McNaughton cup.  Jim Carey continues to
be strong in net, and the defense is doing their job a bit better in front
of him.
 
And as the commentator put it while running down the scores, "...Harvard
HAMMERED Yale 12-1..."  All is well in the world.
 
-john
 
 
-----------------------------------
John R. Nash     [log in to unmask]
-----------------------------------