Drive for .500 by Christmas...Update

Four weeks ago following a disappointing weekend against minnesota, I laid down a plan for the Badger Men to reach .500 by Christmas break. Here is the latest update.

The original plan:

@ North Dakota - Split (1-6-1) - the Sioux are struggling too, get a win and start rolling - Mission Accomplished

vs Michigan Tech - Sweep (3-6-1) - this team is not good this season - Mission Accomplished

@ Duluth - 3 pts (4-6-2) - Duluth is also bad and the blog will be there to inspire the team – Mission Accomplished

@ St. Cloud - Split (5-7-2) - Hopefully get some revenge for the WCHA playoffs – Mission Accomplished

College Hockey Showcase - Split (6-8-2)

vs UAA - Sweep (8-8-2) - They might finish 8th in the WCHA, we can't afford a loss to them at home

I’m somewhat in shock that I picked the last four weekends in a row correct. Now the Badgers come home for the next 8 games, w/ only 6 road games left the entire regular season.

The Showcase includes our Big 10 friends from the East, Michigan and Michigan State. Michigan State (4-8-2) is our foe on Friday, and they are not having a good season. They have currently lost six games in a row. Michigan, who we see Saturday night, is having a better season, but still sits at 8-6 after being swept by Miami (OH) last weekend. Both of these CCHA teams lost a lot of talent to graduation and early departures. Michigan lost Hobey Baker winner Kevin Porter and both his linemates. Michigan State lost Tim Kennedy and Justin Abdelkader who were keys to their National Championship in 2007.

UAA will be a more difficult opponent than previously thought. This doesn’t mean that Wisconsin shouldn’t be able to sweep them at home, but they also shouldn’t take them lightly. A solid 60 minute effort will be needed both nights against the Seawolves.

While I have a split picked this weekend, I would be very happy w/ a Showcase sweep making the leap to .500 one week early. I think a sweep is entirely possible, but overall I hope the Badgers continue to improve each week. Reaching .500 appears to be completely w/ in this team’s grasp, it would certainly be a nice early Christmas present for the team to give themselves climbing out of the 0-6-1 start.