The Wisconsin men’s hockey team will head to Ann Arbor, Michigan, this weekend to square off against Big Ten foe the Wolverines.
No. 12-ranked Michigan (7-2-2) welcomes the Badgers (3-5-4) to the Yost Ice Arena after a three game unbeaten streak following a win at Boston University and a win and a tie at home to Dartmouth. UW, on the other hand, has lost two of their last three games, conceding 12 goals in that span.
Wisconsin played Michigan five times last season, but the Wolverines came out victorious in each matchup. The most recent matchup came in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals last season, where the Badgers fell to the Wolverines 5-1.
The Badgers have already shown significant improvement on the road compared to last season; the team’s win at No. 1-ranked North Dakota on Nov. 6 was one of the highlights. The trip to Ann Arbor will provide Wisconsin with another chance to upset a nationally ranked team, and more importantly, open their Big Ten season on a positive note.
The puck drops at 7:35 p.m. CT on both Friday and Saturday in Ann Arbor.
Wisconsin’s key to victory: Contain the Michigan attack
Michigan’s offensive unit has been one of the most potent in college hockey so far this season. The Wolverines average an alarming 4.1 goals per game. That number paired with Wisconsin’s average 3.1 goals allowed per game could spell trouble for the Badgers. UW’s defense will have their work cut out for them, but it will ultimately come down to limiting the Wolverine attack if the Badgers want to leave Ann Arbor with a win or two.
Michigan player to watch: Cooper Marody
The talented freshman forward from Brighton, Michigan, currently leads the Wolverines in points on the season. Even though Marody is only a freshman, he’s notched seven goals and assisted on five to give him 12 points on the season. Marody is riding a bit of a hot streak as he’s scored a goal in three of the last four games the Wolverines have played. He’s not the only player Wisconsin will have to worry about, but Marody will certainly be at the heart of the Michigan attack this weekend.
