Two of the top schools in college hockey will play four games in Minneapolis this weekend. Both the UW men's and women's teams will battle the Gophers in games significant to postseason seeding.
At the beginning of the season, the Badgers hosted Minnesota in Madison but did not finish the weekend with the results they wanted. The men's team, still looking for its first win at the time, tied and lost to the Gophers. The lady Badgers, who were undefeated, beat the Gophers in game one but also suffered their first blemish by tying Minnesota in the second game.
UW men's head coach Mike Eaves and women's head coach Mark Johnson know the challenge in preparing for rivalry games - especially against Minnesota - is controlling player emotions and helping them focus on the task ahead.
You want to create the energy and certainly want to get them excited, but at the same time, if they get too energized, that might not be good,"" Johnson said.
The Wisconsin women will look to continue their hot streak against the Gophers. They have not lost in Minnesota since being swept in the 2004-'05 season and have dominated since, outscoring Minnesota 22-6.
Just like in October, the No. 1 Badgers will try to hold off the No. 2 Gophers and their electric offense. Minnesota scored 16 goals last weekend against Minnesota State, and they scored 21 goals in two games against Ohio State in early January.
Minnesota will challenge the Badger defense, a unit that gets little attention compared to the rest of the team. But Johnson is pleased with the development of his defensive group.
""We're going to get tested because obviously Minnesota, last month, offensively have put up some pretty impressive numbers,"" he said. ""But I've liked what they've done. I think they've grown, I think they've matured and certainly have developed into a very good defensive core.""
Eaves and the UW men's team also have quite the challenge ahead of them this weekend. Over the last two weekends, UW has failed to capitalize, dropping a game to Colorado College and another to Minnesota Duluth by only one point.
Last weekend, the Gophers were swept for the second time in three weeks and will be eager to take advantage if Wisconsin comes out flat.
UW holds a three-point lead over the Gophers in the WCHA standings, and with the season winding down, each game becomes more important.
""Every day the boys walk into the locker room and there's that standings board,"" Eaves said. ""A lot's at stake, and there will be two storms coming together on Friday and Saturday night for sure.""
The games will be Friday through Sunday. The men play at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Friday's game will air on the Big Ten Network, and Saturday's will be on FSN. The women play Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
- uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.
