A year ago, it was the University of Denver that failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament as defending national champion. This year, Wisconsin is threatening to fall off the same cliff.
However, it would be a mistake to look at the Badgers’ record (15-17-4), conference seeding (No. 7) and overall scoring ability (2.17 goals per game) and assume their season will end at Magness Arena this weekend.
Just look between the visitors’ pipes. That’s where you’ll find All-American Brian Elliott, arguably the NCAA’s premier puck-stopper, who figures to have a huge impact on whether the Badgers continue and possibly ruin the Pioneers’ chances of returning to the NCAA Tournament.
DU, seeded fourth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, hosts the offensively challenged Badgers in a first-round, best-of-three playoff series that pits the teams that have combined to win the past three NCAA titles.
“I think it’s going to be a battle in every aspect,” Elliott said.
The series winner advances to next weekend’s WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. DU – precariously close to the NCAA bubble – might have to get to St. Paul to qualify for the 16-team NCAA field.
The Badgers would have to get in through a darkened back door, winning five games in nine days to collect the Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA playoff champion. Unlike DU, Wisconsin has no chance at an at-large NCAA berth.
“We’re fighting for our season,” Elliott said. “We know that’s our task at hand, and we know we have to get it done.”
Elliott is 12-16-2 but is seventh nationally with a 2.15 goals- against average. His record is not the result of his play, but an offense ranked 56th among 59 Division I teams. Forward Andrew Joudrey leads the team with 24 points, three fewer than DU defenseman Chris Butler, who is fifth among Pioneers’ scorers.
A year ago this weekend, Elliott was neck and neck with DU defenseman Matt Carle for the Hobey Baker Award, which Carle won, and remembers having sympathy for Carle and the No. 2-seeded Pioneers after they were eliminated in the first round by ninth-seeded Minnesota-Duluth. Elliott doesn’t want his peers to feel the same about his Badgers.
“Having all that experience and winning it twice in a row, it had to be tough seeing their season over after the first round,” Elliott said of the Pioneers. “That’s what we’re fighting.”
DU coach George Gwozdecky likes Elliott but doesn’t believe Wisconsin has the goaltending edge this weekend. Gwozdecky will split senior Glenn Fisher and junior Peter Mannino tonight and Saturday, and go with his gut if a Game 3 is necessary.
Mannino was the 2005 Frozen Four MVP and is 6-1 in the postseason. Fisher is 3-1.
“You’ve got arguably the three best and most experienced goalies in the country in this series,” Gwozdecky said. “You’ve got goaltenders that have experienced everything you can as a college athlete … I see a lot of similarities and a lot of parallels. It’s very interesting and makes for a great matchup.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
Denver (21-13-4)
Opponent: Wisconsin (15-17-4)
What: WCHA best-of-three playoff series
When: Tonight (7:35), Saturday (7 p.m.) and, if nec., Sunday (7 p.m.)
Where: Magness Arena
TV/Radio: Comcast Channel 5 (tonight and Saturday)/KEPN 1600 AM (tonight), KKFN 950 AM (Saturday and Sunday)
Notes: DU, which is No. 10 and No. 11 in the polls, is seeded fourth, and Wisconsin is seventh. The Pioneers went 3-1 against the Badgers in the regular season, but Wisconsin won the last game 4-0 at Denver. … Look for Wisconsin to use an aggressive forecheck and force DU to maintain puck control out of the zone. The Pioneers likely will do the opposite, sending in just one forechecker and playing a neutral-zone trap to stimulate transition.
Colorado College (17-15-4)
Opponent: Mich. Tech (16-15-5)
What: WCHA best-of-three playoff series
When: Tonight (7:35), Saturday (7 p.m.) and, if nec., Sunday (7 p.m.)
TV/Radio: None/KYZX 103.9 FM
Notes: CC, ranked No. 16 in the USCHO.com poll, is seeded No. 5 in the 10-team WCHA, and Michigan Tech is No. 6. … The Tigers are 34-3-6 against the Huskies since 1994, and 16-0 at the World Arena, but Michigan Tech is 4-1-1 in its past six games. … Both must win this series to keep their hopes alive to make the NCAA Tournament.
Air Force (16-15-5)
Opponent: Holy Cross (10-19-5)
What: AHA quarterfinal
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Cadet Ice Arena
TV/Radio: None/ESPN 1300 AM
Notes: Air Force is seeded fourth and Holy Cross fifth. The winner will advance to the AHA Final Four next weekend in Rochester, N.Y. The tournament champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. … The Falcons tied Holy Cross twice by 2-2 overtime scores earlier this season in Worcester, Mass. Air Force had 2-0 and 2-1 leads in those games.
MIKE CHAMBERS
