The Wisconsin Badgers came back from defecits of 2-0 and 3-2 to beat
the Denver Pioneers by a final score of 4-3, in Denver.
 
Two of the Badgers goals were scored on the power play.  The announcers
on the Madison station (that I could just barely pick up) said it
appeared that Wisconsin was the fresher team as the third period.
Much of the credit must go to the Strobel brothers, particularly
Mark (#1 star of the game tonight), who seem to *finally* be displaying
some leadership as their senior year winds down.  Their penalty mins
are really down the last few series.
 
Wisconsin is now tied with Minnesota (who tied N. Dakota 3-3) for 2nd
place in the WCHA, and Denver trails by one point in 4th place.
 
The Badgers chances now look pretty good for at least a 3rd place
finish in the division, even if Denver salvages game two on Saturday.
Next weekend Denver plays a home-&-home series with league leading
Colorado College, while Wisconsin hosts Michigan Tech to close out
the regular season.  It seems likely that Wisconsin should be able to
"out-point" Denver next weekend.  (Depends on which Badger team shows
up, though...)
 
A third place or higher finish is desirable because the fourth- and
fifth-ranked teams in the WCHA Final Five must play one extra game
against each other, with the victor filling out the last slot in the
WCHA's "Phinal Phour".
 
Tomorrow night they do it again.
 
--
Steve Manning         Milwaukee, WI           [log in to unmask]
     "Life's a long song, but the tune ends too soon for us all." - I.A.