MADISON, Wis. – For the first time in over two years, the Wisconsin men's hockey team was featured in the USCHO's weekly polls. Following their sweep over No. 8 Ohio State, the Badgers checked in at No. 18 in this week's ranking.

For UW, the two-victory weekend has them ranked for the first time since Oct. 13, 2014, when they were also ranked 18th. Wisconsin came into that season ranked 10th in the preseason polls after winning the inaugural Big Ten Tournament the previous year. The ranking ends a 62-poll drought in the USCHO polls.

The 3-1 win over the Buckeyes on Thursday night in Columbus and the Badgers' 3-2 triumph in overtime on Saturday at Madison Square Garden marked the fourth and fifth times this season that UW has taken down a ranked opponent.

Wisconsin previously defeated No. 6 Boston College on Oct. 17, No. 18 St. Lawrence on Oct. 28 and No. 7 Minnesota on Jan. 21.

The six-point weekend also propelled the Cardinal and White into a first-place tie with Minnesota atop the Big Ten standings. Both teams have an identical 6-2-0-0 record in conference matchups, good enough for 18 points total. Penn State rounds out the top three with a 5-2-1-0 record and 16 points.

The 18th-ranked Badgers hit the road this weekend for the return series against Michigan State in East Lansing, Michigan. UW swept the Spartans on Jan. 6-7, winning both games by a score of 5-1.

Puck drop for both games is set for 6 p.m. CT and will air on FS Wisconsin Plus, BTN2Go and will be available on the radio on WIBA-AM 1310 and the Badgers Sports Network.