1 vs 2 Matchup as UMD Takes on the Badgers of Wisconsin This Weekend

The No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team takes first ranked Wisconsin Badger women’s hockey team this weekend in a battle between the nation's two top dogs.

The two nationally ranked heavyweights met earlier in the year in a series that the Bulldogs hosted at Amsoil Arena. The weekend featured a series split with UMD taking the first game 4-1 followed by the same score the next night only with Wisconsin on top.

At 26-2-1 the Badgers have held the nation's top rank for almost all of the 2016-17 campaign. The Bulldogs run into a Badger squad that has won 12 straight games coming into the weekend bout while UMD is unbeaten in its last eight.

UMD will play in front of a pair of sold out crowds at Labahn Arena this weekend.

“We want to play the best we can play here, away, whatever time we have to play in front of whatever crowd we have. Big or small I think we need to able to play at a consistent level of play if we expect to get to the national tournament,” said UMD head coach Maura Crowell at her Wednesday press conference.

The Badgers come in at first in the nation in goals per game with 4.14 while UMD sits at twelfth with 3.18 goals per game.

Both teams are backed by solid goaltending. UW’s senior goaltender Ann Renee Desbiens boasts a .956 save percentage with 22 wins. Sophomore Maddie Rooney has been solid all season for UMD with a .943 save percentage and 20 wins.

First puck drop is tomorrow at 2 o'clock followed by noon on Sunday.

Picture Courtesy of Dave Harwig