Badger of Honor
Fansided

Wisconsin Hockey: Is it time for the Badgers to Make a Change?

By Tyler Hunt

Jan 24, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; The Kohl Center is the home of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. The image was taken before the game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; The Kohl Center is the home of the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team. The image was taken before the game with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wisconsin defeated Penn State 82-55. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the Badgers in Prime Striking Position, It’s Time to Play Berry Both Nights

While much of the attention has been on Wisconsin Basketball over the course of the season, Wisconsin Hockey has quietly put itself in a position to come away with a Big Ten Title or a possible at large Bid in the NCAA tournament. Wisconsin Hockey currently sits in second place in the Big Ten, just three points behind conference leader Minnesota. After splitting the weekend against the rival Gophers, the Badgers remain just one game behind Minnesota for the possible Big Ten Conference Bid. According to the ever important PairWise Rankings, the Badgers currently sit as an at large team for the NCAA Tournament, but with Penn State ahead of them it’s hard to gaurentee a third Big Ten Team making the Big Ice Dance.

In another huge weekend, the Badgers will travel to Penn State with an opportunity to put themselves in that drivers spot for the ever important at large bid. With six points being a huge opportunity, is it time that the Badgers Head Coach play his star goalie both nights? The numbers say yes. Since starting the rotation on the first of the year both Jack Berry and Matt Jrusiak have played quality hockey, but Berry has clearly been the better goalie over the past month making save after save. This was magnified when Berry made an astonishing 36 saves at Minnesota on Friday night, leading the Badgers to big 3 points and earning him a Big Ten Star of the Week.

Berry has been the Badgers best netminder for the past two months, and in crunch time it seems inevitable that they turn to the Freshman both nights this weekend in what could be the  biggest series that the Badgers have played in the past three seasons. While Head Coach Tony Granato has already exceeded expectations immensely, the work is not done and NCAA births could be on the line. If you want to be playing postseason play, then you have to play your stars every opportunity you get. So don’t be surprised to see the Badgers star young goalie in net both nights this weekend.