Badger Hockey Playoff Situation

by Chuck Schwartz on Feb 22, 2012 9:15 PM CST in Wisconsin Badgers Hockey

There's a good chance Wisconsin and Denver will be squaring up in the first round of the WCHA playoffs in a few weeks. Photo: Nicole Haase.

PLAYOFFS? You're talking about PLAYOFFS?

...Yes, Jim Mora, I am.

There are two weeks left in the regular season for the Wisconsin men's hockey team, but they are regular in name only.

Head coach Mike Eaves spoke about the attitude his club needs to take into this weekends series at Bemidji, as well as next weekend at Minnesota.

"I know (Bemidji) plays well at home. And the way we played (Saturday vs Denver), I think the guys had a real sense of the way we need to go," Eaves noted in his weekly press conference.

"We've got to be playoff ready now. There's no reason to look at it any other way."

The Badgers enter the weekend tied for 10th place in the 12 team WCHA, but it's imperative for the Badgers to snowball the momentum they picked up from the 5-2 dominating effort against Denver last Saturday night.

It's likely that the Badgers will end up facing that same Denver club that they played last weekend in the first round of the playoffs.

According to the phenomenal website 'playoffstatus.com', we've learned that the highest seed that the Badgers can acquire in the WCHA playoffs is 8th, but they only have a 2% chance at doing so. The most likely scenario (68%), has the Badgers finishing 10th.

With the WCHA's format of the #1 seed hosting the #12 seed, that would likely pit the Badgers against the leagues #3 seed.

According to the playoffstatus.com website, the most likely #3 seed will be Denver at a 50% chance. North Dakota (18%), Minnesota-Duluth (14%), Nebraska-Omaha (7%), Minnesota (6%), and Colorado College (5%) are also possibilities.

The opponent shouldn't be what is concerning for the Badgers at this stage. They know that wherever they play in the first round will be outside of Madison and against a quality opponent.

What is incredibly important is that they carry some momentum into that series.

Wisconsin is just 1-8-1 on the road this season, but has played much better than the results may indicate.

Notching quality results on the road the next two weekends in Bemidji and Minneapolis could go a long ways into creating confidence for this young club wherever they may travel in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.

Join the Badger conversation on Facebook! Go to our Facebook page and "like" us!

For more Wisconsin hockey coverage, follow Chuck on Twitter (@UWChuckSchwartz)

Chuck can also be reached via e-mail at chuckschwartz@live.com

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Pairwise

There’s also a Pairwise Probability table here… http://www.playoffstatus.com/ncaahockey/ncaahockeytournpartprob.html
Badgers have a 9% chance to make the tournament, only 2% chance the boys control there own destiny.

by Matt Brausen on Feb 23, 2012 10:58 AM CST reply actions

Let me restate that...

If the Badgers win out, there is still only a 9% chance, plus it depends on other teams. Only a 2% chance it won’t depend on how other teams do.

by Matt Brausen on Feb 23, 2012 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

Doesn’t winning out right through the WCHA Championship punch us a ticket to the NCAA?

by Badgrrr on Feb 23, 2012 1:07 PM CST reply actions

Yes

by Chuck Schwartz on Feb 23, 2012 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

Am I crazy?

So everyone knows Schultz is gone. He is one of the better college players I have seen. I think the only other player in question is Zengerle. Actually Barnes had a chance for a while, but his production really dropped off. I want them to do well in the WCHA tournament, but not too well. I think that is an optimistic view because historically we haven’t been the strongest team in the tournament. I know with two series left I shouldn’t be talking about next year, but I feel like these last couple years have been very cyclic. Let’s just say no matter what happens there has been a lot character development and perseverance this season. (My bet though is Zengerle says he looks like he is having fun.)

by badgerhockeyfan on Feb 23, 2012 5:42 PM CST reply actions

What?

Why would you want the Badgers to do well, but not too well in the WCHA tournament? Why wouldn’t you want them to win every game?

by Chuck Schwartz on Feb 23, 2012 9:11 PM CST up reply actions

Because with Zengerle...

This team would have a chance at the Frozen Four in one year. I know Zengerle is just one player, but it is more about building a culture of winning and the team. Barnes, Mersch, Woods, LaBate, Meuer, McCabe, are all good players, but this program needs greatest to develop out of a few players. We saw the 2006 team coming from 2004, then again in 2010 from the 2009 team. We lose Springer and Schultz this year. I don’t live in Wisconsin so being a hardcore fan takes a lot of energy. This season has been the most frustrating for me since 2000 particularly with the lose against St. Cloud in November. I put my faith behind Mike Eaves because I know he is a ferocious competitor, so losing in the tournament is something I am willing to deal with knowing the commitment moving forward in developing this team.

by badgerhockeyfan on Feb 23, 2012 11:16 PM CST up reply actions

yeah...

I still don’t understand why you want this team to lose?

by Chuck Schwartz on Feb 24, 2012 1:48 AM CST up reply actions

I think he's saying...

that Zengerle is more likely to stay if the Badgers don’t make a deep run. But even if that effected Zengerle’s decision I would rather have a deep run in the playoffs this year over a chance at a deep run next year.

by Hibsbic on Feb 24, 2012 3:52 PM CST up reply actions

Don't worry about it

Trust me, he’s not going anywhere.

by Chuck Schwartz on Feb 26, 2012 4:38 PM CST up reply actions

I figured it out

Ok, so I commented before I really figured out what was going on. Sorry.
That 2% is the chance that the Badgers win the WCHA Tournament. It’s the only way the boys can make the tournament on their own. The 9% comes into play, I think, by the Badgers winning a certain amount of games, AND other teams losing the right games. So there is a 9% chance that all the cards fall into place…

Either way, I’d rather go up and win the Tournament in 3 weeks.

by Matt Brausen on Feb 23, 2012 6:18 PM CST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

Badgers Football Schedule

UNLV	Thu 09/01	W 51 - 17
Oregon St. Building The Dam	Sat 09/10	W 35 - 0
@ Northern Illinois Red And Black Attack	Sat 09/17	W 49 - 7
South Dakota Coyotes	Sat 09/24	W 59 - 10
Nebraska Corn Nation	Sat 10/01	W 48 - 17
Indiana The Crimson Quarry	Sat 10/15	W 59 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 10/22	L 31 - 37
@ Ohio St. Along The Olentangy	Sat 10/29	L 29 - 33
Purdue Hammer and Rails	Sat 11/05	W 62 - 17
@ Minnesota The Daily Gopher	Sat 11/12	W 42 - 13
@ Illinois Hail to the Orange	Sat 11/19	W 28 - 17
Penn St. Black Shoe Diaries	Sat 11/26	W 45 - 7
@ Michigan St. The Only Colors	Sat 12/03	W 42 - 39
@ Oregon Addicted To Quack	Mon 01/02	L 38 - 45