Casey O'Brien keeps pressure on defenses in our look at Wisconsin women's hockey
MADISON – A weekly look at the Wisconsin women’s hockey team.
FOR THE RECORD
Badgers fall in the polls
The Badgers (16-5-1 overall, 12-3-1 WCHA) dropped six spots to No. 8 in the USCHO.com poll and fell three spots in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine rankings after two losses to Minnesota-Duluth. They fell, 3-1, Saturday and, 1-0, on Sunday.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Casey O’Brien keeps the pressure on the defense
The junior forward scored the Badgers’ lone goal of the weekend in the first period Saturday and under better circumstances would have had more. Like her teammates, the past couple of weeks she just hasn’t been able to finish as she normally does.
“The last four games she probably could have had a hat trick in all those games …,” Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said. “She’s getting a bunch of chances and to me that is a positive thing because you’re playing against a worthy opponent. ...If I’m getting a bunch of chances that’s a positive."
NOTABLE
Jane Gervais strong in return
Junior Jane Gervais was in goal Sunday for the first time since she suffered a high ankle sprain 3½ minutes into the Badgers' 4-1 win over Minnesota on Nov. 20. She survived an early flurry of shots from Duluth and recorded 25 saves with a .940 save percentage. That was slightly better than her save percentage entering play (.936).
“I felt a little shaky the first couple of minutes and just (had) the mentality of making that first save and we’ll see for the next one,” she said. “Getting a couple of shots early on helps you get back into it.”
Cami Kronish makes cut for award
Senior Cami Kronish, who handled goaltending duties exclusively while Gervais was injured, is one of 27 players named to the watch list for National Women’s Goalie of the Year. She leads the WCHA with a 1.34 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
Reunion in Columbus
Wisconsin’s series with Ohio State on Friday and Saturday will mark the first time the team faces former teammate Makenna Webster. A junior forward who was the most valuable player of the 2021 Frozen Four, Webster left the Badgers after last season. She has 10 goals and nine assists and recorded a hat trick in a 6-0 win over Lindenwood on New Year’s Eve.
Outdoor meet and greet set for Tuesday
Fans are invited to a meet and greet with the Badgers from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday at Vilas Park. Warm temperatures and less than ideal ice conditions caused UW and Madison Parks to abandon plans for an outdoor skate.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 Times UW has outshot its opponent during its three-game losing streak.
8 Losses for the Badgers at LaBahn Arena over the last six years.
10 Game-winning goals for O’Brien, the second most in program history.
COMING UP
The top-ranked Buckeyes are on deck
At No. 1 Ohio State, 5 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday (BTN+): Is this the week the Badgers break out of their scoring slump? It won’t be easy. The Buckeyes, whose plus-2.73 scoring margin ranks third in the WCHA, have only lost to Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth, with both games decided by one goal.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Casey O'Brien keeps shooting in our look at Wisconsin women's hockey
