The Wisconsin Badgers have a tough test ahead of them in the Frozen Four. A win-or-go-home game that either advances to the National Championship or watches it from your couch. The Badgers have to take on the No. 2 seed in North Dakota, which hasn't allowed a single goal in the entire tournament so far.
Mike Hastings joined the NHL Network to talk Wisconsin Badgers hockey and preview the upcoming matchup. He had a great one-liner after telling all the ways that North Dakota is really good: "If I were going to mix a cocktail and send it to you guys, that one is pretty potent."
Mike Hastings jumped on NHL Network to talk the Badgers path to the Frozen Four pic.twitter.com/77gE1xNCvZ
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) April 1, 2026
Mike Hastings says that North Dakota is dangerous and a "potent" matchup for Wisconsin
Related: Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey takes on historical foe in Frozen Four
Hastings is ready for anything, as his team has proven it can handle adversity and still pull off victories. The Badgers just pulled off one of the most stunning wins in all of college hockey this year when they were down 3-1 in the third period during the Regional Final to Michigan State. Wisconsin then scored two goals within 30 seconds to send it to overtime and found another goal in 24 seconds to win it all.
That's how they got to the Frozen Four, but now they have to take on North Dakota, one of the best teams in all of college hockey. There's even an argument to be made that they are the absolute best; no other team has dominated the bracket like the Fighting Hawks.
Hastings has high respect for North Dakota, "We are battle tested, they definitely are...They are good. They are hard, they are heavy, they are committed to what they do... They've got high-end, they've got buy-in from their bottom six, that defensive core has played an awful lot of college hockey, and they have a goaltender that hasn't given up a goal in the regional." Hastings then delivered the "potent cocktail" line.
It's going to be a battle, and what Hastings said first may be the key that unlocks the entire game. Both teams are battle-tested, but only one can advance. Who's it going to be?
The game will be on April 9th at 4 CT in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the winner going to the National Championship of men's college hockey. The game will air on ESPN2.