The Wisconsin Badgers will face a tough stretch of games to close out the regular season.
One year ago, the Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team had a total of six wins. They were the bottom feeders of the Big Ten Conference and were eventually bounced out of the postseason conference tournament in one game, ending the disastrous season.
Today and one year later, the Badgers boast an overall record of 17-10-1, and more importantly 10-4 in conference with a total of 30 points, just three behind the first place leading Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Fresh off a sweep of Michigan, a meeting that the Badgers scored 11 goals in two games, Wisconsin was able to keep pace with the Gophers after Minnesota somehow pulled off the sweep at No. 11 Penn State following an overtime thriller on Saturday.
With just three weekends remaining in conference play, it is beginning to look like a two-team race for first place.
Big Ten Standings (Conference Record/Points):
- Minnesota (11-3-0, 33)
- Wisconsin (10-4-1, 30)
- Ohio State (7-6-1, 23)
- Penn State (7-6-1, 22)
- Michigan (2-10-2, 10)
- Michigan State (2-10-2, 8)
With Wisconsin and Minnesota the two teams at the top, it makes this upcoming weekend’s meeting between the Badgers and Gophers in Minneapolis that much more important.
Minnesota and Wisconsin split their earlier series in Madison, with the Badgers close to earning the sweep if it were not for an overtime loss in a game they thought they should have won.
Despite all that has gone on, the Badgers have to be pleased with where they are after the abysmal year they experienced last season and the low expectations heading into this year. Not many people would have guessed with three weeks remaining that the Badgers would have a shot at a conference title.
While it will not be easy, the Badgers can come out of Minneapolis in first place if things align perfectly. A sweep of the Gophers will put Wisconsin in first all by themselves, while a Badgers win and a tie will have the two teams in a lock for first. Any win by the Gophers this weekend will still have the Badgers trailing.
Out of the four teams mathematically still alive for the Big Ten title, Wisconsin is the only team of the four that has to play the other three to end the season. While that certainly is not a walk in the park, the Badgers do control their own destiny when it comes to how they want to place in conference.
Remaining series (Current record vs:):
- at Minnesota (1-1)
- at Penn State (0-2)
- vs. Ohio State (2-0)
Minnesota is first on the list. The Gophers have won six out of seven and currently sit as the No. 4 team in the country.
“We’re playing the best right now, as far as going into Minnesota and knowing the kind of run that they’re on,” Badgers coach Tony Granato said (via UWBadgers). “Our guys have looked forward to these challenges all year, and this will be another one.”
Wisconsin will be looking for their first conference championship in 17 years. The Badgers are 9-3 away from Madison this season and will need some of that road magic to get it done.