[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

The schedule doesn't get any easier for the Wisconsin men's
hockey team after being swept by No. 7 Colorado College.

The Badgers will take to the road for the second straight
weekend to face No. 2 Michigan and No. 5 Michigan State in the College Hockey
Showdown.

The series against CC was the first time UW had been swept
all season. The Badgers (5-5-0 overall, 2-4-0 WCHA) allowed four goals on
Friday and six Saturday, the most so far in a series this season.

"They really attacked us with a lot of speed coming into the
zone," said goaltender Shane Connelly, who sat out the third period of
Saturday's game after giving up five goals. "It was a mixture of what they did
and the lack of what we did. We were a little undisciplined in our own end."

With the series against the Tigers played on a bigger rink
than what the Badgers were used to, CC was able to use speed to their
advantage.

"I think their game plan was just to use their speed and
come out and create odd-man rushes," freshman forward Kyle Turris said.

Playing a high-scoring team like Colorado College was a test
for the young Wisconsin team early in the season, and Connelly believes they
can take away from what they saw over the weekend and use it against Michigan
Friday.

"We're going to benefit from already having played a team
that likes to get on the offensive side of the puck," Connelly said. "We've
just got to be ready for that. They're going to come out with speed; they've
got a bunch of skill players."

On offense, senior forward Kevin Porter leads all Wolverine
scorers with 18 points on 13 goals and five assists, also good for tops in the
nation. Forwards Chad Kolarik, Aaron Palushaj and Max Pacioretty also have
double-digit point totals so far this season with 14, 12 and 11, respectively.

In the net for Michigan will be Billy Sauer, whose 11-1
record has been a big reason for the team's hot start and current 10-game
winning streak.

Friday will also mark the first time many of the Badgers
will play at Yost Arena, which head coach Mike Eaves says has a great
atmosphere.

"For our young men who have never played at Yost Arena, what
a thrill," Eaves said in a press conference Monday. "It's one of the great
college hockey rinks in the country, and that place is packed, and the fans are
what they are."

After Friday's game, the Badgers must make the trip to East
Lansing for Saturday's matchup with the defending champion Michigan State
Spartans (8-3-0). Turris said the extra travel won't make much of a difference,
however, as most of the players have grown accustomed to being on the road.

"It's not that big of a thing anymore," Turris said. "I
think everybody's experienced enough to know how to prepare themselves."

The Spartans are coming off a sweep at the hands of Miami (Ohio)
to end an eight-game winning streak. MSU's only other loss on the season came
against North Dakota, a team the Badgers split with in October.

Junior forward Tim Kennedy has led the Spartans on offense,
scoring 10 goals to go along with five assists. And Jeff Lerg has been MSU's
top netminder this season, posting a 7-3-0 record.

As has been the case for games earlier in the year,
Wisconsin will not be favored heading into this weekend’s games. Players like
Connelly have even come to relish the role of underdog against Michigan.

"You know going into the game they're up in the ranks,"
Connelly said. "The biggest thing is they're the No. 2-ranked team playing at
home. A little bit more pressure is on them. They're supposed to win this game.
… We're confident enough that we can beat anyone in the country."

With losses against Colorado College sending Wisconsin into
a three-game losing streak, the weekend series will be a chance for the Badgers
to get back on the winning track.

"Everyone's going to come back Friday with a lot of anger,"
Turris said. "I think we're going to come out and play our best game so far."

"It's two teams that haven't played each other this season
with a lot on the line," Connelly added. "It's big. We need to get this win."