As the regular season draws to a close, the No. 12 Wisconsin men's hockey team (11-9-2 WCHA, 19-10-3 overall) finds itself fighting for position in the WCHA standings. The battle is on to secure home ice for conference playoffs, and with the standings tight, every game from here on out might as well be considered a postseason game.
As far as intense atmospheres go, it doesn't get much bigger than this weekend. With Minnesota (9-10-3, 12-12-4) coming into town, the Badgers are ready to renew one of college hockey's great rivalries.
Wisconsin didn't fare so well this past weekend on the road against Nebraska-Omaha, getting swept by the Mavericks. According to senior forward Podge Turnbull, however, after that series the focus immediately shifted to this weekend.
""We have played worse and won games,"" he said. ""But I think our focus as soon as we left the rink on Saturday was to gear up for this weekend at home. This is the most important weekend for us.""
At seventh place in the WCHA standings, the Gophers sit only three points behind the fifth place Badgers in the standings, adding a new level of intensity to the program's most played rivalry. Historically there has always been bad blood between the two programs, and for players from both states a series against the Gophers carries all the more weight.
""There is a lot of pride on the line between these two teams,"" said Turnbull, a Hayward, Wis. native. ""These are the types of games you want to play in. This is a fun weekend to be a Wisconsin Badger.""
""They are my least favorite team,"" junior forward and Minnesotan Jorday Murray, a said. ""There is so much history and hatred toward each other. When it comes down to it we just don't like each other.""
For junior defenseman Jake Gardiner, who grew up in Minnetonka, Minn., the series takes on an added dimension. His younger brother, Max, is a freshman forward for the Gophers.
""With my brother on the team it's a huge thing to play against him,"" Gardiner said. ""I'm friends with a lot of those guys, but on the ice I'm not friends with any of them.""
The Wall Street Journal recently named the Kohl Center the most intimidating place to play in college hockey. This weekend will be the Badgers' first home series since Jan. 22 and 23 against Minnesota State, and the players are expecting the Crease Creatures to play a pivotal role against the Gophers.
""I hope it will be packed,"" Murray said. ""This is a playoff game and there is nothing better than playing Minnesota in the Kohl Center with our fans behind us.""
Gardiner said he hopes the fans are at the same level as they were last weekend when the Wisconsin men's basketball team took down then-No. 1 Ohio State.
""My roommate [junior point guard] Jordan Taylor was saying how much the crowd helped against Ohio State in picking them up when they were down,"" Gardiner said. ""That is what the fans do here at Wisconsin, they're awesome.""
