Quick Six Border Battle: Nr. 17 Wisconsin Visits No. 4 Minnesota

On By Littum

Madison, Wis. -no. 17 Wisconsin men’s hockey team continues its last four weekends with Big Ten games by visiting No. 4 Minnesota for a border match in Minneapolis Friday and Saturday 31 January-Feb. 1.

Friday’s game starts at. 19, while Saturday’s begins at 1 p.m. 17.00 both games stream on B1G+. Saturday’s game is broadcast on TVW in the Madison area.

Here are six quick things to know before setting:

Businesses: Wisconsin || Minnesota
Game notes: Wisconsin

1-BAG in the polls: For the first time since October 21, Wisconsin Men’s Hockey in the USCHO.com top-20 vote as the 17th best team in the nation, according to voters.

After his 5-4 win and 4-4 draw against the then No. 10 Michigan last weekend, Wisconsin earned 118 votes to neighbor No. 17 location. The last time UW was in the rankings was the 21st October vote when it ranked No. 20 with 81 votes.

Wisconsin is also ranked No. 18 in this week’s US Hockey/The Rink Live Poll with 64 votes.

2 – Christian Fitzmagic: Junior forward Christian Fitzgerald Had a big weekend against Michigan last Friday and Saturday, and held three goals this weekend to help Badgers earn four conference points against Wolverines.

Fitzgerald turned on the lamp twice in Friday’s exciting 5-4 comeback victory and scored Badgers’ first goal at Power Play in the opening frame and the game-winning goal with 3:09 back in the competition. This marked the junior’s first two-goal match with Wisconsin, who came in his 100. Collegial games.

 

Forward, then found the back of the net once in Saturday’s 4-4-made, scoring an important goal in the second period for Wisconsin to tie the game to three. Fitzgerald’s efforts over the weekend helped him earn his first career Big Ten First Star this week nodded.

 

3 – Defense generation of offense: Badger Blue Liners have been on fire recently with three different defenders who illuminate the lamp four times during the last four games.

Through the first 22 games of the season it is only senior defender Daniel Laatsch had spoken from Badger Blue Line. Both Laatsch’s goals were overtime games winners. As Laatsch has been sidelined for the season before UW’s series against Liu on 17-18. January, is Wisconsin’s Blue Liners stepped offensively with Zach SchulzAt Logan Hensler (twice) and Ben Dexheimer All scores in the last four matches.

Sophomore Schulz scored his first goal of the season against the sharks on January 17th. The same evening, a beginner also spoke his first career NCAA goal. Hensler again hit Michigan on January 24 with a fine stick trading, and Junior Dexheimer scored his first goal for the year 25. Dexheimer leads all Badger defense players with 15 assists and 16 points.

 

Other defenders have also generated offensive power with graduate students defender Anthony Kehrer Recording three primary assists in the series against Michigan.

4 – Last Time Out: Badgers enters the Minnesota series after registering a 5-4 win and 4-4-made against the then No. 10 Michigan Wolverines Friday and Saturday 24-25. January.

In play a rose Badgers back from a two-target deficit to defeat Wolverines, 5-4. Michigan first joined the board 1:37 into the first period. Wisconsin’s Christian Fitzgerald and Logan Hensler Then two quick goals scored at. 10:06 and 11:11 into the first period to give UW a 2-1 lead. Michigan turned on the lamp another three times-at. 15:06 of the first period and twice in the second period at. 10:44 and 11:40 to make it a 4-2 game in favor of Wolverines. Badgers started their comeback with a power-play goal from Owen Mehlenbacher with 5:16 back in the second before Fitzgerald and Simon Tassy Scored twice with 5:12 and 3:09, respectively in the game to help Wisconsin rally to a 5-4 win.

 

In game two, a goal from Ben Dexheimer With 3:43 back in regulation, Badgers helped delete a two-goal deficit for the second straight night and tie Michigan, 4-4. Michigan opened the scoring 3:42 into the first period before Wisconsin’s Tyson Dyck Answered at. 8:27 in the first to tie the game on one. UM then scored twice more during the opening period at the time at. 9:30 and again at. 12: 13- To take a 3-1 lead on the way into the other. Quinn Finley Turn on the lamp 4:46 into the second period to make it a 3-2 game then Christian Fitzgerald Tied it at three, 11:05 in the frame. Wolverines regained their lead 8:24 into the third before Ben Dexheimer Tied the game on four for UW to force overtime. No team scored in overtime and the game officially went down like a 4-4 draw. Michigan found the back of the net in the third round of shootout to require the extra conference point.

 

5 – Scout Minnesota: Gophers currently has a 19-6-3 record, including a 10-4-2 record (32 points) in the Big Ten game. They go into the weekend after suffering a loss and a draw against No. 2 Michigan State last weekend, lost Game One, 9-3, and ties Game Two, 3-3, before losing exhibition cootout, 2-0.

Junior tip Jimmy Snuggerud leads the watch list with 18 goals and 37 points in 28 games played. Sophomore goalkeeper Nathan Airey has 11 wins in 15 starts and accumulates a .901 savings percentage and a 2.50 goal given on average.

The last time Badgers and Gophers met this season was on 8-9. November 2024 in Madison. Minnesota won Game One, 3-2, in regulation and games two, 3-2, in overtime.

6 – How to see: Friday’s game starts at. 19, while Saturday’s begins at 1 p.m. 17.00 Both games stream on B1G+, with Saturday’s game broadcast in the Madison area on TVW. Audio Play-by-Play can be found on the 1310 WIBA or on the Badgers app and Varsity Network app. You can also follow the X/Twitter and Instagram at @badgerMhockey.