No. 7 Minnesota (13-5-2 overall, 5-1-0 Big Ten) vs. Wisconsin (10-7-1 overall, 3-1-0 Big Ten)
Date: Friday, Jan. 20, 2017
Location: Kohl Center | Madison, Wis.
Puck Drop: 7:05 p.m. CT
TV: FOX Sports North
Stream: BTN2Go, FOX Sports Go
Radio: 1500 ESPN, Gopher Radio Network
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017
Location: Kohl Center | Madison, Wis.
Puck Drop: 5:05 p.m. CT
TV: FOX Sports North
Stream: BTN2Go, FOX Sports Go
Radio: MyTalk 107.1, Gopher Radio Network
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
According to Wisconsin game notes, “Wisconsin and Minnesota’s records differ slightly in the all-time record of the series.” If we were their sports information department, we probably wouldn’t want to post either side’s tally either. What we found was a 164-91-23 advantage for the Gophers. Not. Close.
It’s Hockey Day Minnesota on Saturday, which should be good news for the Gophers. Minnesota is 6-3-1 on HDM, and topped Wisconsin the only time they met on the unofficial holiday.
The Gophers won three of four meetings last year, including outscoring Wisconsin 13-2 in two games at the Kohl Center.
Minnesota will need to keep an eye on senior Grant Besse. The Benilde-St. Margaret product has nine goals and 12 points in nine contests against the Gophers.
Wisconsin also has another dangerous forward, Luke Kunin. The 2016 Wild first round pick has 13 goals in 17 games this year.
The Gophers have just one Wisconsin native on their roster, while the Badgers boast six Minnesotans.
STORYLINE CENTRAL
The Wisconsin State Journal has a quick slideshow rundown of the weekend series.
Part of the Hockey Day Minnesota festivities include a Gopher-Badger alumni hockey game in Stillwater on Friday night. Jace Frederick of the Pioneer Press has a rundown of the game, including the rosters.
Chad Graff, also with the Pioneer Press, has a must-read story on incoming Gopher Casey Mittelstadt. The Eden Prairie standout will be in Maroon and Gold next year, but is trying to win a state title this season as a senior.
Nate Schmidt blasted one of the more underrated goals in recent memory when the Gophers met Wisconsin in 2012. The save, deke, and clapped bomb helped Minnesota to the WCHA title.
QUOTES
Don Lucia
On losing Tommy Novak to a season-ending injury:
“I feel bad for anybody that has to have surgery to end the season. You have to go through the rehab–unfortunately it’s part of athletics. I thought he was really starting to come on. He’s obviously a valuable player. It’s difficult to lose a centerman, probably more so than a winger. He’s good on draws, he plays on the power play. We’ll have to shuffle the deck a little bit and see who can fill that void.”
On what’s different about Wisconsin under new coach Tony Granato:
“I don’t think they’re playing too differently. You look at it, hockey doesn’t change too much. They’re a little bit more aggressive from an offensive standpoint. They have a couple center’s that are first-round picks. Kunin goes from a 17-18 year old and he’s a year older. Right now, their personnel is starting to mature, especially up front. You look at the metrics, instead of getting outshot on a nightly basis, they’re outshooting teams by 10.”
Vinni Lettieri
On if he looks forward to playing Wisconsin over other Big Ten teams:
“It’s fun going and playing the other schools. Wisconsin is obviously a fun one, I love going there. It’s a great rivalry. I love when there’s a mixture of fans in the building when you have Wisconsin and Minnesota being so close. It’ll be a fun weekend and it’s good for them they got a new coaching staff. They’re having a little rebuilding year but they’ve been doing well lately so it’ll be a good test for us.”