Coming off a home sweep against the Minnesota Gophers, the No.10 Wisconsin Badgers (6-0-2) men’s hockey team look to extend their eight-game unbeaten streak against the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines.
After a slow start on Thursday night, the Badgers finished strong with a 5-2 win against the Gophers. Senior Christian Fitzgerald had a big night with two goals and an assist.
The Badgers carried this momentum into Saturday night’s 4-0 shutout win. Junior Quinn Finley and freshman Blake Montgomery scored two goals each. Freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser stopped all 22 shots he faced, securing Wisconsin’s first shutout win against the Gophers in fifteen years.
No. 10 Wisconsin last played No. 2 Michigan in January 2025, ending in a win followed by a shootout loss for the Badgers.
This weekend, the Badgers will face a tough challenge against the Wolverines who play at home after coming back to win down 2-0 against Notre Dame.
Known for their highly offensive playing style, Wolverine forwards Michael Hage, Will Horcoff and T.J. Hughes will be ones to watch. In the net, Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic has proven to be an asset to the Wolverines defense, with a save percentage of .934.
Michigan’s offense is lethal, converting about 14.6% of their shots into goals and averaging over five goals per game. While Wisconsin's offense has been strong, they will have to rely heavily on their defense and goaltending to keep the Wolverines close.
The Wolverines convert well on their power plays in comparison to the Badgers, while also holding their opponents to a .139 conversion rate. Wisconsin will have to stay penalty-free and rely on their special teams during power play opportunities.
The Badgers are off to a strong start, but this weekend’s series in Ann Arbor will test them. Limiting turnovers and keeping pressure in the offensive zone will be key in extending their unbeaten streak.
Puck drops 6 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday in Ann Arbor.
