Varsity - The Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics

Varsity - March 13, 2014

Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.

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44 // VARSITY March 13, 2014 SCHEDULE (21-9-2, 12-5-1-0) LAST TIME OUT March 7 at Penn State W, 4-2 March 8 at Penn State W, 3-2 (OT) COMING UP Friday at Michigan State 6 p.m. Saturday at Michigan State 3 p.m. March 20 Big Ten Tourney 2 p.m. March 21 Big Ten Tourney 7 p.m. Focus on solidifying roles With postseason up ahead, game simplifies and Badgers look to crystalize play A s the regular season comes to a close and the postseason begins, the teams that end up with a long, successful run may just be the teams that know who they are, play to their strengths and play together, with each person on and off the ice doing what they are supposed to do. Sounds simple. Wiscon- sin has a first line that cur- rently includes sophomore Nic Kerdiles and seniors Mark Zengerle and Tyler Barnes. The trio posted five goals and 13 points last weekend, having a hand in six of the seven goals scored at Penn State. They are UW's scoring line and doing the job. Despite giving up two pow- er-play goals last weekend, the Badgers' penalty kill seems to be in good hands. Led by Keegan Meuer and Sean Little, the group has been nearly per- fect over the last 11 games, allowing just three short- handed goals. They actually balanced the two power-play goals allowed at Penn State last weekend with two short- handed tallies of their own. Goaltending has been a strength for months, with ju- nior Joel Rumpel posting num- bers that rank among the top three in the country. He's been part of a defense that has al- lowed two goals or less in nine consec- utive games and three goals or less in every game since the start of December. Even the power play has come around of late. It failed to score a goal on four chances last Saturday at Penn State, but put up six goals over the previous four games. STARS OF THE WEEK ● Mark Zengerle earned his first Big Ten honor after scoring a short-handed goal, an overtime game-winning goal and racking up six total points in UW's sweep at Penn State. Kerdiles was the Big Ten Second Star of the Week. INSIDE MEN'S HOCKEY BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO @BADGERMHOCKEY

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