From: The Capital Times (Madison)by Todd D. Milewski
There's always a premium on getting off to a good start in a short playoff series, but in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, that's heightened for road teams.
Since the league's first-round playoff format switched to a best-of-three series in 1988, only one road team has won a series after losing the first game.
That was 18 years ago, when Denver rallied from a six-goal loss in Game 1 to oust host North Dakota.
While 14 road teams (15.6 percent) have won a first-round playoff series since 1988, 13 of them have done it by being the first to strike.
That hasn't been a strength of the University of Wisconsin during the regular season, but it's close to a necessity when the Badgers meet Denver starting Friday at Magness Arena.
"It doesn't matter if it's home or on the road," Badgers coach Mike Eaves said. "To get that first one under your belt is a huge thing, especially when you might have to play three (games) in three (days)."
In the WCHA playoffs, the team winning Game 1 has won 80 of the 90 first-round series (88.9 percent) since 1988.
That statistic fits nicely into the Badgers' late-season mantra of the next game being the biggest on the schedule.
The Badgers were 6-7-1 in the first game of WCHA series this season, including 3-4 on the road. But going on the road now allows Wisconsin to simplify things in its game.
"You don't have to feel like you have to entertain your fans," Eaves said. "You've just got to be efficient and be very simple."
Road Rules
Combining a two-week road swing to end the regular season and the upcoming first-round playoff series at Denver, the Badgers will play three straight series in opponents' rinks for the first time since November and December 1999.
The Badgers were swept at Michigan Tech two weeks ago before rebounding for a win and tie at Minnesota-Duluth.
Eaves said he doesn't see any road weariness in his players, and he used his team's zeal for a drill Monday - he had to cut it short to save energy - as an example.
"They're excited about the playoffs," Eaves said. "It's a fresh start. They know their task at hand. We have to be good, and we know we can be good."
Change Of Plans
Between Wisconsin's departure from Duluth last Saturday and its arrival back home, a lot changed in terms of their plans for this weekend. Really, it all changed in 36 seconds of game time in Colorado Springs, Colo.
When they left Duluth, the Badgers' first-round destination was riding on the outcome of the final game of the WCHA regular season. A Colorado College win meant the Badgers would have gone to Colorado Springs; a Denver win would have sent the Badgers to North Dakota; and a tie would have put the UW at Denver.
CC had a three-goal lead in the second period and appeared ready to welcome the Badgers, but Denver overcame the deficit, scoring twice in the final 36 seconds to force overtime. That produced a tie, of which the Badgers learned when their charter flight landed in Madison.
The varying fates is a pretty good indicator of how close the standings were on the last night, especially between the Pioneers and the Badgers.
"We're two games apart, (and) they're in (fourth), we're in seventh," Eaves said.
Since the league's first-round playoff format switched to a best-of-three series in 1988, only one road team has won a series after losing the first game.
That was 18 years ago, when Denver rallied from a six-goal loss in Game 1 to oust host North Dakota.
While 14 road teams (15.6 percent) have won a first-round playoff series since 1988, 13 of them have done it by being the first to strike.
That hasn't been a strength of the University of Wisconsin during the regular season, but it's close to a necessity when the Badgers meet Denver starting Friday at Magness Arena.
"It doesn't matter if it's home or on the road," Badgers coach Mike Eaves said. "To get that first one under your belt is a huge thing, especially when you might have to play three (games) in three (days)."
In the WCHA playoffs, the team winning Game 1 has won 80 of the 90 first-round series (88.9 percent) since 1988.
That statistic fits nicely into the Badgers' late-season mantra of the next game being the biggest on the schedule.
The Badgers were 6-7-1 in the first game of WCHA series this season, including 3-4 on the road. But going on the road now allows Wisconsin to simplify things in its game.
"You don't have to feel like you have to entertain your fans," Eaves said. "You've just got to be efficient and be very simple."
Road Rules
Combining a two-week road swing to end the regular season and the upcoming first-round playoff series at Denver, the Badgers will play three straight series in opponents' rinks for the first time since November and December 1999.
The Badgers were swept at Michigan Tech two weeks ago before rebounding for a win and tie at Minnesota-Duluth.
Eaves said he doesn't see any road weariness in his players, and he used his team's zeal for a drill Monday - he had to cut it short to save energy - as an example.
"They're excited about the playoffs," Eaves said. "It's a fresh start. They know their task at hand. We have to be good, and we know we can be good."
Change Of Plans
Between Wisconsin's departure from Duluth last Saturday and its arrival back home, a lot changed in terms of their plans for this weekend. Really, it all changed in 36 seconds of game time in Colorado Springs, Colo.
When they left Duluth, the Badgers' first-round destination was riding on the outcome of the final game of the WCHA regular season. A Colorado College win meant the Badgers would have gone to Colorado Springs; a Denver win would have sent the Badgers to North Dakota; and a tie would have put the UW at Denver.
CC had a three-goal lead in the second period and appeared ready to welcome the Badgers, but Denver overcame the deficit, scoring twice in the final 36 seconds to force overtime. That produced a tie, of which the Badgers learned when their charter flight landed in Madison.
The varying fates is a pretty good indicator of how close the standings were on the last night, especially between the Pioneers and the Badgers.
"We're two games apart, (and) they're in (fourth), we're in seventh," Eaves said.
2 comments:
Eaves wants to entertain the fans huh, what happened to playing to win? That's all the Badgers should be playing for because they are one of the least entertaining college hockey teams I've ever seen in my life.
Interesting comment by Eaves to be sure.
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