U-M to Open Big Ten Play with Home Series against Wisconsin

UPCOMING GAMES
#11 U-M vs. Wisconsin	#11 U-M vs. Wisconsin
Friday, Dec. 4	Saturday, Dec. 5
7:35 p.m.	7:35 p.m.
TV: Comcast Ch. 900 \| Live Stats Live Audio \| BTN2Go	TV: Comcast Ch. 900 \| Live Stats Live Audio \| BTN2Go

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (7-2-2, 0-0-0 Big Ten) is set to open its third season of Big Ten play this weekend with Wisconsin (3-5-4, 0-0-0 Big Ten) in town for a two-game series, starting Friday night (Dec. 4, 7:35 p.m.) at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines are unbeaten in their last seven games against the Badgers (6-0-1), with U-M winning all five meetings last season, including the most-recent contest, a 5-1 Michigan win in the Big Ten Quarterfinals on March 19, 2015, at Joe Louis Arena.

• After finishing the 2014-15 season at 4-26-5, Wisconsin is much improved so far this season, notching a signature win at No. 1 North Dakota (W, 3-1) on Nov. 6. The Badgers were idle last weekend, while Michigan is coming off a 1-1 tie on Saturday night against Dartmouth. Sophomore forward Tony Calderone scored at 7:56 of the third period to help the Wolverines earn the tie, and junior goaltender Zach Nagelvoort made 30 saves in relief of Steve Racine (5 saves) who left the game midway through the first period due to injury.

• Michigan and Wisconsin will meet for the 132nd and 133rd time this weekend, with the Wolverines owning a 69-54-8 record all-time against the Badgers. Michigan's seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) in the longest for U-M in the series since a 10-game streak (9-0-1) that spanned eight years from 1994-2002. On Jan. 12, 1923, Michigan played its first varsity game against the Badgers, with the Wolverines earning a 2-1 (2OT) win at Weinberg Coliseum, with Eddie Kahn scoring the first goal for the Wolverines, and Robert Anderson notching the game-winner.

• In the last meeting between the two teams Michigan scored five goals, but it took a solid performance on the penalty kill to help the Wolverines ward off Wisconsin, 5-1, in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament on March 19, 2015 at Joe Louis Arena. Michigan finished the night 6-for-6 on the penalty kill, including a 4-for-4 mark in the third period with a key 5-on-3 kill that took place with the Badgers in striking distance. Dylan Larkin had a goal and three assists, Zach Hyman added two goals and an assist and Steve Racine made 27 saves in net to lead Michigan. Andrew Sinelli scored his first goal of the season, and Justin Selman also scored a late goal for the Wolverines.

• Michigan has several ties to Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves. Mike's brother Murray Eaves played two seasons at U-M (1978-80) before embarking on his pro career. Mike was raised in nearby Windsor, Ontario.

• Michigan is once again one of the top scoring teams in the nation with an average of 4.09 goals per game (No. 5 NCAA). The Wolverines have topped the five goal mark in six of 11 games this season. Last season, the Wolverines topped five goals in 14 games, the most in a single season since 2009-10 (15).

• Buoyed by a season-best 4-for-6 night on the man advantage in a 7-0 win against Dartmouth last Friday night, U-M has now scored power play goals in four of the last five games (9-for-25, 36.0%), and is No. 7 in the nation on the man advantage (25.5%) this season.

• Over the last nine games, Michigan's penalty killing unit has been in a groove, including a 6-for-6 effort in U-M's 1-1 tie against Dartmouth last Saturday night. Michigan has killed off 32 of the last 34 power-play opportunities (94.1%) for the opposition. Michigan is 37-for-41 (90.2%, 7th in NCAA) on the penalty kill so far this season. U-M is also one of the least penalized teams in the country, averaging 8.5 penalty minutes per game (51st in NCAA).