Gophers men’s hockey had a slightly underwhelming result and maybe a North Dakota hangover last weekend, with a shootout loss and an overtime win at home against Penn State. Next up is a massive opportunity at home against No. 1 Wisconsin.
How to watch
- Date(s): Thursday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 7
- Time: 7 p.m. CT (both nights)
- TV/streaming: Big Ten Network (Thursday) and FOX9+/B1G+ (Saturday)
Minnesota remained No. 18 in this week’s USCHO top 20 poll, and it now welcomes the second top-three rival to 3M Arena at Mariucci. The series will get some much-needed national TV treatment on BTN on Thursday night, and then it will fall back to streaming on Saturday.
It will be a busy weekend near the University of Minnesota campus, with Wisconsin-Minnesota on Thursday night, Minnesota-St. Thomas in men’s hoops on Friday night, the football team hosting UCLA on Saturday at 11 a.m., and then the men’s hockey series finale on Saturday night.
Wisconsin preview
The Badgers have looked dominant to begin Year 4 under head coach Mike Hastings, with a perfect 6-0-0 record. Their schedule has been much easier than Minnesota’s, but a 29-5 goal differential is eye-opening. Robert Morris, Minnesota State and Notre Dame are far from world beaters, but Wisconsin looks like a legit national title contender…