Wolverines Ready for Trip to Wisconsin for B1G Weekend Series

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

THE SERIES
The University of Michigan ice hockey team will travel to Madison for a two-game Big Ten weekend series with No. 20 Wisconsin. The two teams split a weekend series in December at Yost, with the Badgers taking the first game, 7-4, and Michigan salvaging a split on Saturday, 4-1.

Michigan and Wisconsin will meet for the 138th time in program history, with U-M holding a 72-55-10 record in the series. The two teams first met in January 1923, as Michigan hosted Wisconsin for the first two varsity games in Wolverine program history. Michigan swept that series, 2-1 (2 OT), 1-0, and went on to split the series in Wisconsin the next weekend.

Over the last 10 meetings between the programs, Michigan holds 7-1-2 edge, with two shootout wins over that span. Wisconsin's victory earlier this year was its first at Yost since Nov. 26, 2005 (3-2), and first against Michigan since Jan. 11, 2014 (3-1).

The Wolverines head into the weekend currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak at the Kohl Center. The last time U-M fell to the Badgers at the Kohl Center was on Jan. 11, 2014, when Wisconsin swept the weekend series, 5-2, 3-1.

Last season, Michigan went 1-0-1-1 in its trip to Wisconsin, taking the Friday contest by a score of 4-1 then settling for a 4-4 tie (1-0 SOW) on Saturday.

SLAKER LEADS THE WAY
Jake Slaker recorded one goal last weekend and has recorded six points in his last five games. Slaker currently leads the Maize & Blue with 19 points (6g, 13a), 13 assists and 12 power-play points heading into the weekend.

WELCOME BACK, COOP
After returning to the team for the second half of the season, Cooper Marody has recorded nine points (4g, 4a) in ten games, while also leading the team with a .581(100/172) faceoff percentage.

KEEPER TRIO
Freshmen Jack LaFontaine and Hayden Lavigne have combined with senior Zach Nagelvoort between the pipes for the Maize & Blue, with Lafontaine and Nagelvoort appearing in nine game apiece, and Lavigne with eleven appearances.

FIRST TIMERS
Nine Wolverines have scored their first collegiate goals this season, which includes seven freshmen (Lockwood, Luce, L. Martin, Merl, Sanchez, Slaker, and Winborg). The most rookie scorers since the 2009-10 season (seven). The freshmen class accounts for 64 of the team's 168 total points heading into the weekend.

POWER PLAY HEATIN' UP
After not registering a power-play goal in four straight games, U-M has scored five man-up goals in the last four games, and at least one all four of those contests. Michigan's PP ranks No. 17 throughout NCAA DI (20.0%).

SHORTIES
U-M has registered six short-handed goals thus far, tied for fourth most in NCAA DI coming into the weekend. They have already reached the total from last season (6). Will Lockwood's two short-handed goals is currently tied for third in NCAA DI.

JUST BLOCKIN' IT
Michigan leads all of NCAA DI in blocked shots per game with 17.73 average heading into the weekend. Luke Martin currently has the tenth best blocks per game average in NCAA DI (2.31).

UP AHEAD
The Maize and Blue will travel to Ohio State next weekend (Feb. 24-25) for its final regular-season road trip of the season. Michigan split their two-game series earlier this month with No. 11 Ohio State, taking the first game, 5-4, while dropping the second game, 6-5.