I only get the digest version of the list, so it's possible someone has
posted something on last night's Wisconsin-NMU game since the last
digest I received was transmitted.  But, in case not, just a few lines
of description.
 
This was an excellent hockey game, really fun to watch.  It was a
goaltender's  show, and both the Badgers' Daubenspeck and the Wildcats'
Kochan were outstanding.  The Wildcats tested Daubenspeck much more than
the Badgers did Kochan in terms of frequency; the 'Cats shots on goal
for the three periods plus the overtime totaled 43, while the Badgers
had something like 27.
 
I think everyone expected a very hard-hitting game, but it wasn't,
although a lot of energy was displayed.  The energy went into fast
skating.  Although the Marquette newspaper suggested today the low score
kept the teams from engaging in too many penalty-risking physical
encounters, I think Rick Comley was closer to the truth in his postgame
radio remarks.  He has been repeatedly complimentary of the Badger
defensemen (in fact, claiming that their top 5 blue liners are the best
group of this size on any team in the country), and he said they move so
well, often and fast, as well as passing very quickly, that although his
'Cats "would have liked to hit them, we usually couldn't get to them."
 
Wisconsin played, as was noted by Badger coach Jeff Sauer in his
postgame interview with the newspaper, a defensively-oriented game, and
I thought that was rather noticeable.  But Daubenspeck was what made
that strategy work for Wisconsin, to the extent a tie is a desired
outcome.  He stoned a large number of good NMU chances, including four
by Wildcat scoring leader Greg Hadden.  The only time he cracked was
late in the first period when the Wildcats were buzzing his net and
after making one or two saves NMU newcomer Paul Spina put a shot from th
slot over his shoulder (at least that's how it looked to me from my good
vantage point for that end of the ice, despite the Mining Journal's
description of it "sliding along the ice.")
 
Kochan was equally spectacular when tested; he made at least half a
dozen excellent saves, including one on a beautifully executed 2-on-1
attack and another on a clean breakaway.  He also made some outstanding
passes to his forwards during power plays.  The one goal he surrendered
was late in the second period during a Wisconsin power play on a
"knuckle ball" shot from the slot which seemed to kind of paralyze him.
 
From my very amateurish perspective, it appears that the Badgers'
Daubenspeck might have one vulnerability.  When it gets hectic in front
of his net he has a tendency to lie down.  When doing so he is incredi-
bly effective in blocking low shots; he stacks his pads and blocks the
entire goal mouth.  But I have to think there's some real opportunities
for someone who can lift a rebound to the upper half of the goal.  Also,
he tends to give up a fair number of juicy-looking rebounds out front.
Last night when this happened there never seemed to be a Wildcat close
enough to get a stick on it.
 
I'm sure we're all looking forward to tonight's rematch; all fans,
coaches and players seem to feel very good about their favorites'
performances last night.
 **********************************************************************
 *  Steve Christopher, NMU    [log in to unmask]    GO 'CATS!!!         *
 **********************************************************************