The Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Dates: Friday-Saturday, March 6-7, 6 P.M CT
Location: East Lancing, Michigan. Munn Ice Arena
Ice Surface: 200’ X 85’
TV: Friday; Comcast- CN 900. Saturday; FS Detroit/Wisconsin Plus
Radio: WIBA AM 1310
Video Stream: BTN2go.com/BTN2go app
Audio Stream: Badgersportsnetwork.com (Free)
All-Time Series: UW trails 46-47-3
Last Meeting: 3-0 MSU over Wisconsin
About Michigan State University
Record: 14-14-2, 8-6-2-2 Big Ten
Head Coach: Tom Anastos (4th season 59-73-16)
Notable: Michigan State sits in third place in the Big Ten standings going into the weekend series with Wisconsin. They sit only two points back of Minnesota and will look to leap frog the Gophers and into second place this weekend.
Stat Leaders:
Points: Matt Berry (23)
Goals: Two tied at 10
Assists: Matt Berry (15)
Save Pct.: Jake Hildebrand (.925)
Goals Against Average: Jake Hildebrand (2.24)
About Wisconsin:
Record: 4-22-4, 2-12-2-2 in Big Ten
Head Coach: Mike Eaves (13th Season – 259-202-57)
Notable: Wisconsin’s tough season faces it’s final road series as the Badgers head to East Lancing. The Badgers’ troubles have not been due to lack of good goaltending, Joel Rumpel is posting 31.071 saves a game which ranks as the fourth highest amount of saves in the nation.
Stat Leaders:
Points: Grant Besse (22)
Goals: Grant Besse (11)
Assists: Grant Besse (11)
Save Pct.: Joel Rumpel (.902)
Goals Against Average: Joel Rumpel (3.50)
Quick Analysis:
With the Badgers looking up on the whole Big Ten Standings, a dejected team travels to East Lancing. The Badgers’ main goal for this season is to try to put a couple more wins in the overall record and get hot as the Big Ten tournament looms.
Wisconsin and Michigan State played just a short two weeks prior to this weekend’s games. That series left with a split, Wisconsin taking the first game, Michigan State nabbing the second.
Wisconsin knows that they can beat this Spartan team, and that confidence is something that team will need heading into this weekend.
Michigan State really does not have one major guy that Wisconsin will need to key on. The top scorer on the team has only ten goals.
Michigan State gets the job done with total team win, much like Wisconsin.
Behind Jake Hildebrand in goal, the Spartans are dangerous on the counter attack and the power play.
Wisconsin will need to continue to see production from point leader, Sophomore Grant Besse, and the other upperclassmen like Joseph LaBate and Brad Navin.
These older guys have been on a winning Wisconsin team and need to lead the way in the final road test.
Prediction:
Friday: Wisconsin 1 Michigan State 0
Saturday: Wisconsin 1 Michigan State 4
Badgers will snag one of these two games, they are too prideful and have improved too much to end the season’s road schedule by getting swept. Joel Rumpel will be huge all weekend.
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