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