After losing two close games to No. 14 Penn State last weekend, Wisconsin welcomes archrival Minnesota to the Kohl Center in a series that could change the course of its season.
The Badgers' current 4-10-6 record is anything but impressive on paper, but the amount of tight contests they’ve played in speaks volumes. Last weekend, they dropped the first game to Penn State in overtime, but showed resolve, coming back twice in the contest, including scoring a goal with just under four minutes left to even the score. Wisconsin lost the second game 4-1 but only trailed by one until the third period.
Over their last six games, the Badgers had a -2 goal differential and went 2-3-1 in that span. But if the 4-1 loss against Penn State is removed, that goal differential becomes a +1, showing that they may be trending in the right direction. This recent upswing in play could come to an apex this weekend and turn around what has been a disappointing season thus far.
“We have not been on the ‘W’ side as much as we would have liked, but we have been there knocking and certainly have been doing good things and moving forward,” Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves said in a press conference Monday.
“I still think that we feel that way, that we can go into any game with what we're doing and how we're playing, and if we can get that again, we have a chance to win some of these games.”
Freshman forward Luke Kunin could play a big role in picking up a pair of wins this weekend in the Border Battle. He has scored in each of his last three games and notched seven points in those contests, moving him into a tie with junior forward Grant Besse for the team lead in points.
If he can continue his recent strong play, the Badgers could find themselves locked in a couple of close battles with the Golden Gophers (6-2-0 Big Ten, 11-10-0 overall).
However, Minnesota comes into the series on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Michigan State in Minneapolis last weekend. The Gophers also dismantled Penn State 7-1 after dropping the first contest of that series in overtime.
Sophomore Leon Bristedt, who has a plus/minus of +12 and junior Hudson Fasching, who sits at +11, will lead the Gophers offensively. They are tied for the team lead in points with 22. Fasching scored twice in Minnesota’s first win against Michigan State last weekend and Bristedt added an empty netter in the second contest. The Badgers will need to contain these two linemates to hold the Gopher offense in check.
Defensively, Wisconsin will also need freshman goalie Matt Jurusik to step up after allowing eight goals in the series against Penn State.
“I think if you talk to him [Jurusik] in a one-on-one situation, though, especially on Friday night, those goals that went in were direct shots, and in talking with him he said ‘I should have had some of those,’" Eaves said.
Jurusik currently boasts a .901 save percentage, averaging 3.20 goals allowed per game. Meanwhile, the Badger offense is averaging just 2.60 goals per game. Jurusik must tighten up between the pipes to keep his team in the game.
His counterpart, Gopher freshman goalie Eric Schierhorn, is averaging 2.60 goals allowed per game. The Badgers will have to pick up their offensive play in order to compete and get back in the win column this weekend against their bitter rival.
“I think that no matter what the records are, that everybody gets a little excited about this weekend, and it always produces some really fun hockey,” Eaves said.
The puck drops Friday night at 8 p.m. and then again Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Kohl Center.
