Cruz Lucius' return could boost fourth-ranked Wisconsin men's hockey vs. Notre Dame
MADISON – It will take more than one player to help the Wisconsin men’s hockey team shake out of its scoring slump, but having Cruz Lucius back in the lineup should be a boost.
The Badgers sophomore is expected to play this weekend when Notre Dame (14-12-2, 8-8-2 – 27 points) visits the Kohl Center after he missed last week’s series against Minnesota due to injury. The puck drops at 7 p.m. Friday and at 6 p.m. Saturday. (Both games can be seen on BTN+, heard on AM-97.3 The Game in Milwaukee or on the Badgers or Varsity Network apps).
Despite getting three points out of the series with the Golden Gophers, the Badgers scored just one goal in each of the games.
Fourth-ranked UW, which is 20-6-2 and 11-4-1 (35 points), has been held to one goal in three of four contests since the start of the second half of the Big Ten season.
The Badgers’ power play is just 1 for 11 (9%) during that stretch.
The team’s struggles in that area were especially apparent Saturday against Minnesota when a late power play opportunity netted no good chances on goal and no momentum.
Lucius, who leads the Badgers with 22 points and has scored a point in 15 of his 24 games, might help in that regard.
“He’s a gifted offensive player that is rounding out his game and being a guy who plays on both ends,” Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings said. “And he produces offense for us. He was our leading scorer coming into the week. And just his presence. I think he has a calming presence in our locker room, on our bench.”
UW will try to snap out of its slump against a team that statistically is better defensively than what the Badgers faced against Michigan or Minnesota.
Notre Dame enters the series ranked No. 2 in Big Ten games in goals allowed (2.50) and blocked shots (13.83). It is third in penalty kill percentage (.813).
Goaltender Ryan Bischel leads the league in goals allowed (2.39) and save percentage (.934).
Last week Notre Dame, which is 4-2 since the first UW series, split with Big Ten leader Michigan State.
“If you look and you watch tape on them from when we played them I just think they’re really hitting their stride,” Hastings said.
Lucius enters the week with 10 goals and 12 assists. Two of those assists came in a 7-4 victory over the Fighting Irish on Jan. 6 that represents Wisconsin’s highest single-game goal total for the season.
The series will mark Lucius’ seventh and eighth games against Notre Dame. He has recorded nine assists in his first six contests vs. the Fighting Irish. He tied a UW record with four assists in a loss last season.
“He’s an integral player for us,” Hastings said. “I think the guys missed him and so did the staff and we’re glad he’s back with us.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cruz Lucius' return could boost fourth-ranked Wisconsin men's hockey
