No. 19 Wisconsin (17-10-1 overall, 10-4-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 4 Minnesota (20-8-2 overall, 11-3-0 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
Location: Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn.
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: FOX Sports North PLUS
Stream: BTN2Go, FOX Sports GO
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
Date: Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017
Location: Mariucci Arena | Minneapolis, Minn.
Puck Drop: 7:00 p.m. CT
TV: FOX Sports North PLUS
Stream: BTN2Go, FOX Sports GO
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
It’s a giant weekend for both teams. Minnesota and Wisconsin are separated by just three points in the Big Ten standings. Unlike the Gophers, who are all but a lock to make the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers need to finish the season strong to make the tourney.
It may not be a big defensive battle for the two-game series. The Gophers are 30th in the country allowing 2.83 goals per game while Wisconsin is a dismal 46th at 3.29.
You won’t find the all-time record in Wisconsin’s team notes for the weekend. There’s a reason. The tally we could find was 164-91-23 in favor of, you guessed it, the Gophers.
The rivals split their first meeting this season in Madison. Minnesota took the Friday night game in OT, but fell 5-3 in the finale.
Since that meeting, both teams have been hot, going 6-2-0.
Minnesota Wild draft pick Luke Kunin continues to put the puck away. The sophomore captain is 8th in the country with 19 goals on the year.
STORYLINE CENTRAL
According to College Hockey News, the Gophers are 100% to make the postseason while Wisconsin is at just 38%.
Todd Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal has a short slideshow preview of the series.
Also from Milewski, Wisconsin has a tough test in closing the season strong and winning the Big Ten.
QUOTES
Justin Kloos
On what Wisconsin does well:
“Good offensively, very good. They have a lot of high-end talent in their forwards. We have to make sure we play smart against them. They can capitalize on odd-man rushes so we have to play really smart and limit their chances. We’re a team that can do the horse-race thing; win 5-4 or 6-5 or something like that. Against Wisconsin, we’d prefer the game to be a little lower scoring. I know that didn’t happen when we were out in the Kohl Center but I think that’s a little more of a focus this time around.”
Tyler Sheehy
On if there will be more emotion this season against Wisconsin due to the standings:
“Yeah, I think so. Anytime you get to play Wisconsin there’s going a be a little bit of a battle. You’re going to have to take a punch and give a punch. It’s a huge weekend for us. Six big points on the line. It could ultimately decide the conference. It’s going to be two, really tough games. We know they are going to come out and play tough against us, so, we have to be ready to go Friday night.”
On what it will take to have in-zone success this weekend:
“Just play behind their defensemen, playing low, and making those guys turn. They have some bigger guys. If we get it deep and get pucks on net, I think we’ll be alright.”
Rem Pitlick
On what they have to do to beat Wisconsin:
“I think we just have to play our game. We’re a strong, fast, skilled team and it doesn’t really matter who our opponent is. That’s kind of our mentality and that’s what we need to do.”