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When Wisconsin and Minnesota get together for any sport,
there is always intensity between the two teams. But when the No. 5 Badgers
(23-7-2, 19-5-2 WCHA) head to Ridder Arena this weekend to take on the No. 4
Gophers (25-4-3, 21-4-1) in the final regular season weekend, a lot more will
be on the line.

With UW four points behind Minnesota-Duluth, and Minnesota
only one point back, both teams enter the weekend with a shot at winning the
WCHA regular season title. At the very least, second place and the No. 2 seed
in the WCHA playoffs is on the line.

With all that on the line, it gives the rivalry extra
intensity, according to UW head coach Mark Johnson.

?It adds a little more heat,? Johnson said. ?I don?t know if
it adds pressure, but it certainly adds meaning to it. It makes the game funner
to play in when there are things on the line. You come down to our last two
regular season games, and you have an opportunity to move up in the standings
if you do well. To me that creates excitement.?

However, a lot has changed since the last time these two
teams met in November at the Kohl Center. Minnesota was still adjusting to new
head coach Brad Frost ? who took over the program after Laura Halldorson
stepped down in August ? while Wisconsin was still adjusting to the loss of a
senior class that led the team to two national championships.

The Badgers and Gophers ended up splitting that weekend, but
since that time, Minnesota has gone on a tear. After losing their next game to
conference leading UMD, the Gophers have not dropped a game, going 19-0-2 in
their last 21 games.

?They found a formula with the coaching staff that utilizes
their assets, which is speed and puck movement, and try and create scoring
opportunities,? Johnson said. ?They?ve been able to do that and have success.?

Wisconsin also enters this weekend on a hot streak winning
13 out of its last 14, with its only loss to Minnesota-Duluth. The Badgers are
also coming off a pair of shutouts over Bemidji State, which they hope will
give them momentum this weekend.

?Both Alannah (McCready) and (Jesse) Vetter played great,
and that boosted the confidence of the team in both goalies,? captain Emily
Morris said. ?I think that will carry some energy over into this coming
weekend.?

While Minnesota might be one of the hottest teams in the
country, Wisconsin has one thing on its side this weekend: the last seven times
the Badgers have gone into Minnesota, they have come out with the win.

?We just have a little extra excitement anytime, anywhere
you play Minnesota,? Vetter said. ?I think we just enjoy playing at Ridder
(Arena) because it?s such a nice rink and such a great facility. They get a
good amount of fans to come to the game, and we build off that excitement from
the crowd and just try and play some good hockey.?

If Wisconsin is going to come out of the weekend with its
ninth straight win at Minnesota, it will have to find a way to shut down the
Gophers? high-scoring offense. Gigi Marvin, who leads the WCHA in points, leads
the Minnesota offense that averages 3.59 goals per game.

?They just have an explosive offense,? Vetter said. ?They
are always moving. They got a lot of depth. They definitely can bring it to you
with their first through third line. You just got to be aware of their speed
and their ability to make things happen.?

However, the Badgers know they will have a good shot at
getting another sweep if they are able to limit their penalties and make the
most out of every power play they get.

?When you look at this weekend, as you get ready for the
playoffs, those things have to be in place if you?re going to move on in the
tournament,? Johnson said. ?Your power play has to work. Your special teams,
your penalty killing has to work and your goaltender has to be good. If you?re
missing one of those ingredients, then the chances of winning aren?t as high.?

Regardless of the outcome this weekend, Johnson likes
playing Minnesota right before the playoffs because he believes it will prepare
his team for another title run.

?When you play against a good opponent, an opponent who is
very high in the rankings, it?s going to make you a better hockey club,?
Johnson said. ?It?s going to make your group go up a couple of steps. Certainly,
when we come back and get organized for our playoff weekend, we are going to be
much better off than we are this weekend.?