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The weekend started out rough, but finished on a high-note as the Arizona Wildcats put together two wins on the three-game road trip to Colorado and Colorado State.
The Wildcats started out the week on Thursday at Colorado State, and the Rams completed the season sweep of Arizona with a 4-2 victory.
Based on the CSU twitter feed, Arizona returned to their overly-physical ways this week after playing winning hockey at ASU last week.
Rams not able to take advantage of some frustrated Wildcats trying to dig themselves a hole. UA fans and team giving the refs some business.
— CSU Rams D1 Hockey (@CSUD1Hockey) February 7, 2014
Rams up 2-0 after 2 over @UAWildcatHockey. Both teams frustrated - Rams without any goals that period and 'cats with the stripes.
— CSU Rams D1 Hockey (@CSUD1Hockey) February 7, 2014
And #3 Neff gets a tip-in for the 4th goal of the night and on another pp. And UA coach gets tossed - trying to get the boys fired up.
— CSU Rams D1 Hockey (@CSUD1Hockey) February 7, 2014
4-2 Rams lead. Game getting out of control. #12 for the Rams escorted off the ice. A UA player tries to start a fight.
— CSU Rams D1 Hockey (@CSUD1Hockey) February 7, 2014
Ugly end to the game. Rams win 4-2. Boys still shake hands. Rams take the series 3 games to none this year. It'll be interesting next year!
— CSU Rams D1 Hockey (@CSUD1Hockey) February 7, 2014
Don't know if that was coach Hogan that got tossed or not, but what a joke that sort of game happened just five days after arguably the biggest win ever by this team.
Friday was also physical, as the CU announcers said during the broadcast that Michael Ferreira was tossed for shoving a ref. The Wildcats took the game 4-1, even with the lack of emotional control.
Arizona is all about the post whistle stick work and body. 26 gets 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct skating to the bench
— Colorado Hockey (@cubuffshockey) February 8, 2014
Things are getting rough out here. A near fight is broken up by the refs with a minute left in the second
— Colorado Hockey (@cubuffshockey) February 8, 2014
Saturday saw a tight contest, with Arizona taking the game 4-3 after a power play goal in overtime.
But the game ending didn't mean that the fights had to stop...
Arizona powerplay goal to win in overtime 4-3. Marenholz and an Arizona kid square off in an even bout after the game
— Colorado Hockey (@cubuffshockey) February 9, 2014
A minimum of two wins were needed against these two inferior opponents to keep the Wildcats solidly in the National Tournament picture, so at least they came away with that.
This style of hockey doesn't work against the good teams, as we've seen before. If this team shows up in two weeks against ASU, or in the tournament, the Wildcats are doomed.
