MADISON, Wis. -- The No. 17 Badger men's hockey team returns home for their first series in the Kohl Center this season to host the two-time defending national champions No. 3 Minnesota Duluth.
 
Here are six quick things you should know before tuning in this weekend.
 
1. FRESHMAN FEVER: The anticipation around the incoming freshman class is one that lived up to the hype through the first two games. Badger freshmen Cole Caulfield, Alex Turcotte, Dylan Holloway, and Owen Lindmark have accounted for eight out of the 14 goals scored so far this season and 13 out of the total 35 points. All four of them scored their first collegiate goals during the opening weekend. Fellow rookies Ryder Donovan and Mike Vorlicky both saw their first career ice time and junior transfer Ty Pelton-Byce scoring his first goal as a Badger, as well.
 
2. GOAL CAUFIELD: The No. 15 overall draft pick to the Montreal Canadians in the 2019 NHL Draft, Cole Caulfield is turning heads all over the hockey world after his performance during opening weekend. The Big Ten Second Star of the Week from Stevens Point, who trained with the U.S. National Development Program, scored two goals against both Boston College and Merrimack. He is the first Badger freshman to have multiple-goal games in his first two appearances in the modern era of Badger hockey (since 1963).

Caufield helped the Badgers put up six goals in the second period last Saturday, the most in a period since 2006, 11 goals in a game for the first time since 1992. He also scored six seconds into the third period, one second shy of the school mark for fastest goals to start a period, set by Ron Vincent in 1980.
 
3. IT'S TIME: As the Badgers get ready to host Minnesota Duluth, and putting on all the finishing touches to make the Kohl Center gameday ready, Wisconsin is set to take advantage of their return to the Kohl Center and the nation's college hockey capital by using the environment that comes with it to their advantage. The Badgers went 9-7-1 on home ice last year and will look to improve on that record to start out their home ice season going for a statement-making upset against the No. 3 Bulldogs.
 
4. LUCKY LINUS: As the points-per-game leader from last season, Linus Weissbach knows how to best help his team, but with all the goal production going on through the first two games of the season, it's easy for the talented junior forward to get lost in the action. However, that's not bothering him one bit. Weissbach dished out four assists during the first two games, tying him for second on the team in total points.
 
5. SCOUTING MINNESOTA DULUTH: After raising their second NCAA championship banner in as many years, the two-time defending national champs dropped their season-opener last weekend to UMass-Lowell on home ice. They responded the next night to finish 1-1-0 the first weekend.
 
Minnesota Duluth gradated three seniors from last year's squad including top points producer and captain, Parker Mackay. However, the Bulldogs return their powerful junior class from last season containing the remaining two players a part of the top three point producers last year. The UMD junior class knows nothing but victory at the end of their season, but the Badgers hold a three game win streak that they will look to add on to come this weekend.
 
The team's last met during the 2012-13 season when Wisconsin posted 3-1 and 4-1 victories in the first round of its final WCHA playoffs appearance. The Badgers went on to capture the Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA tourney champions.

6. HOW TO WATCH: Fans can tune into both games against Minnesota Duluth on Fox Sports Wisconsin or listen in on 1310 WIBA radio. Link for video streams can be found on the UWBadgers.com schedule page. Fans can also tune into twitter for live updates from the men's hockey page @BadgerMHockey. Game times for opening faceoff take place at 7 p.m. both nights from the Kohl Center.