Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan Set to Host Wisconsin in B1G Weekend Series
11/21/2018 3:41:00 PM | Ice Hockey
THIS WEEK
Friday, Nov. 23 -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
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Saturday, Nov. 24Â -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
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• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
The No. 16-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (6-5-0, 2-2-0-0 B1G) continues its Big Ten schedule as it hosts Wisconsin (5-7-0, 1-3-0-0 B1G) this weekend (Nov. 23-24) at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
The Wisconsin Series
Michigan and Wisconsin will meet for the 146th time in program history, with U-M holding a 75-59-11 record in the series and 40-16-7 edge in Ann Arbor. The two teams first met in January of 1923, as Michigan hosted Wisconsin for the first two varsity games in Wolverine program history. Michigan swept that series, 2-1 (2OT), 1-0, and went on to split the series in Wisconsin the next weekend.
The two teams last met March 2-3, 2018, in Ann Arbor where the Wolverines knocked the Badgers out of the B1G playoffs with a sweep in a best-of-three series.
Scouting the Badgers
Finishing at 14-19-3 (8-13-3 B1G) last season, the Badgers finished sixth in the Big Ten conference and concluded their season with two consecutive losses to Michigan in the Big Ten Playoff Quarterfinals.
Wisconsin returns only one of their top-three points leaders from last season in Linus Weissbach (10 G, 16 A). However, Wisconsin's roster boasts five NHL draft picks on defense in K'andre Miller, Wyat Kalynuk, Tyler Inamoto, Ty Emberson, and Josh Ess.
The Badgers are led by head coach Tony Granato, who is in his third season as coach of Wisconsin. Granato led the Badgers to within one goal of the Big Ten title in his first season in 2017 and was named Big Ten Coach of the year for his effort. Granato coached 13 seasons in the NHL prior to his Wisconsin job and was also the bench boss for Team USA During last season's Winter Olympics.
Wisconsin This Year
The Badgers are visiting the Wolverines after starting their season 5-7-0. The Badgers started their season strong, winning four of their first five games before hitting a rough six-game stretch that saw them post a 1-5 record through those contests.
Sophomore defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk leads the team in points with 11 points from five goals and six assists, while sophomore forward Sean Dhooghe leads the team in goals with seven. Junior goaltender Jack Berry (.874 SV%) and freshman Daniel Lebedeff (.917 SV%) have each started six games apiece with the freshman posting a 3-3 record in those games slightly besting Berry's 2-4 record.
Last Weekend Recap
The Wolverines are coming off of a weekend split at No. 5 Penn State. Michigan got off to a strong start, defeating the Nittany Lions Friday night, 6-4, before falling in heartbreaking fashion 7-6 in overtime Saturday evening.
No Joshin' Around
Josh Norris is tied for fourth in the Big Ten conference in points with 15 (8 G, 7 A), which is good for ninth in the country. His eight goals are ranked second in the Big Ten and fourth in the nation. While recording points in 10 out of the 11 games this season.
Locked In
Will Lockwood is currently riding a team-high six-game point streak going after a five-point weekend. Lockwood's point streak is a career high and is only one game short of the team's highest streak last season.
Captain Apples
Joseph Cecconi added two assists to his already impressive season total and now has 11 on the season. That is the second highest total in the Big Ten and tied for third most in the country.
Van Clutch
Garrett Van Wyhe scored his first collegiate goal on Saturday as Michigan trailed by two goals. The goal couldn't have come at a better time as it poised U-M for another comeback and allowed the Wolverines to force overtime. Van Wyhe is one of three freshmen to tally their first collegiate goal thus far.
Slake and Bake
Jake Slaker has recorded points in eight out of the 11 games this season, giving him a total of thirteen points (7 G, 6 A).
Quinn-tesential Passing
Quinn Hughes tallied four assists last weekend, and now has 10 assists which is tied for 13th in the country and third in the Big Ten. He has recorded a point in six of the last seven games.
The 'SNL' Line
Michigan's top line of Jake Slaker, Josh Norris, and Will Lockwood have accounted for 46% (19/41) of the team's goals thus far and have recorded a combined 40 points.
Lighting the Lamp
Michigan has scored 41 goals this season, the tenth largest total in the country and an average of 3.73 goals per game -- which ranks seventh highest in the country.
Man Advantage
Michigan is converting on 27.4% of their power plays which is the seventh best percentage in the nation. Michigan has scored 15 goals on the man-advantage which is third highest in the country.
The Maize and Blue will play a home-and-home series against Michigan State next weekend (November 30- December 1), with Friday's contest being in East Lansing and Saturday in Ann Arbor. The two teams have met 314 times in history, with Michigan taking the series 159-133-22. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. for both contests.
