Men's Hockey Drops a Pair Of One-Goal Games In Madison
MSU 1, UW 2; MSU 2, UW 3
by Brad Wheeler
November 22, 2005
In their last ten periods, the No. 2 Wisconsin Badgers have allowed only three goals. The good news for MSU is those three goals were scored by the Mavericks. But freshman netminder Dan Tormey was outdueled by UW’s Brian Elliot as the Badgers took both WCHA contests from Minnesota State last weekend at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
“We’re disappointed we didn’t finish the job,” David Backes said. “We take the ice to win, not to just come close to winning.”
Both games were close and decided by just a goal. In Saturday nights contest, a fluke goal by Wisconsin decided the outcome. In Sunday’s game, the Badgers held the Mavericks to just 19 shots on goal and played brilliant team defense.
“It shows how great of a team they are,” Backes said.
MSU rolled into Madison unbeaten in its last four games and brimming confidence. Wisconsin was even hotter, as they stood at the top of the WCHA standings and was coming off an impressive shutout against No. 3 Colorado College.
Wisconsin forward Joe Pavelski scored twice in the first period Saturday and it was all the Badgers needed as they beat MSU 2-1. His second goal went off of MSU defenseman Steve Wagner’s skate blade and trickled over Tormey’s shoulder into the net.
MSU forward Joel Hanson scored halfway in the third period off of a rebound, but it wasn’t enough.
“We couldn’t have played it any better,” Backes said. “That’s just them throwing the puck at the net and having good things happen.”
Tormey made 31 saves in the losing effort, as did the Badgers’ Elliot. If not for Hanson’s goal, the junior would have had his second consecutive shutout.
In the rematch Sunday, Elliot didn’t have to be as good. The Badgers defensive effort allowed the Mavericks only 19 shots on goal as UW took the second game 3-2.
“They are just so good defensively,” Backes said. “We never really could do what we wanted whether it was set up our power play or just try and get to the net. They are very good at harassing you defensively.”
Once again, the Badgers scored first, beating Tormey in the first period. Backes tied the game in the second period with a backhand goal to make it 1-1. After the Badgers buried goals in each the second and third periods to jump ahead 3-1, MSU defenseman Kyle Peto closed the gap 3-2 halfway through the final period. But the Mavericks could never pull Tormey late in the game as the Badgers kept MSU out of their zone in the last minute of action.
“It shows where we’re at right now when you see we lost to the No. 2 team in the nation by one goal each game,” Backes said.
Brad Wheeler is a Reporter staff writer