Five Things to Know: No. 1 Badgers face No. 2 Gophers at home

Friday, January 24

Madison, WI

7:07 PM

Wisconsin Badgers

Minnesota

Photo by: Kai Martin

Five Things to Know: No. 1 Badgers face No. 2 Gophers at home

January 22, 2020 | Women's Hockey

UW takes on border-rival Minnesota in anticipated weekend series

Wisconsin

21-2-1-0

Minnesota

20-2-3-1

Game One Coverage

Friday, Jan. 24 | 7:07 p.m. - LaBahn Areana

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Game Two Coverage

Saturday, Jan. 25 | 3:07 p.m. - LaBahn Arena

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Listen On 100.9 FM

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MADISON, Wis. – The No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey team is back at LaBahn Arena for a rematch Border-Battle against No. 2 Minnesota Jan. 24-25. Friday night's puck drop is at 7:07 p.m. before wrapping up the series Saturday at 3:07 p.m.

1. BOUNCE-BACK FROM BEMIDJI: Coming off a bye week, the Badgers held a split series Jan. 10-11 against Bemidji State where the Badgers defeated the Beavers in the opening game with a 3-2 win thanks to Brette Pettet's game-winning goal at the Sanford Center.

In the series finale, UW dropped its first game of 2020 in a 3-2 setback Saturday.

Prior to last weekend, UW held an 11-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten streak which was the longest streak in the country. Minnesota is the only other team to have bested the Badgers this season.

FINAL IN BEMIDJI!
No. 1 #Badgers 3, Bemidji State 2@BrettePettet's goal is the difference tonight pic.twitter.com/GNy7vZIV0d
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) January 11, 2020

2. WATTS THE WORD? Junior Daryl Watts, the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, netter her 100th career assist against Bemidji State last weekend on sophomore Sophie Shirley's goal tallying a two-point weekend.

Watts continues to lead the country with 54 points and 34 assists, while her 20 goals are the third-most in the NCAA.
Watts' 54 points are the second-most in school history through 24 games as only Meghan Hunter had more in a single season (55 in 2000-01).

Help us give a stick tap to #Badgers Daryl Watts, who netted her 💯th career assist last week in Bemidji! pic.twitter.com/mLAmaIqAUI
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) January 17, 2020

3. SHIRLEY IT'S A SISTER THING: Sophie and Grace Shirley are embracing their hockey dreams at Wisconsin as the third sister duo to lace up their skates for the Cardinal and White.

The sisters grew up playing hockey thanks to their family legacies shifting between boys' and girls' leagues before following fellow Saskatonian Emily Clark (Wisconsin forward, 2014-19) to UW.

Sophomore Sophie Shirley, the 2019 WCHA Rookie of the Year, ranks third in the NCAA with 42 points this season setting a career high, meanwhile freshman Grace Shirley has one goal and four assists in her first season with the Badgers.

From the backyard rink in Saskatoon ➡️ LaBahn Arena in Madison

Sisters Grace and Sophie Shirley are living out their 🏒 dreams for the #Badgers https://t.co/3tu8lQC1Al
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) January 13, 2020

4. AGAINST MINNESOTA: In the ever-anticipated series against rivalry schools, UW is 39-52-12 all-time against the Gophers and 16-20-5 at LaBahn Arena.

Last time out, the Badgers tallied their first setback of the season at Ridder Arena but snagged a 2-2 draw in the series finale as Britta Curl and Dara Greig scored in the third period. The second game marked the first 3-on-3 OT for the Badgers and the first shootout between UW and Minnesota since Feb. 19, 2017.

Despite trailing the overall series, the Badgers have won nine of the last 12 meetings with the Golden Gophers, including two matchups in the NCAA tournament and a game in the WCHA Final Faceoff.

Greig with a one timer from Norby! pic.twitter.com/i6XJ1N1iXW
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) November 3, 2019

5. WOMEN ALL-STARS … IN THE NHL: At the annual NHL all-star weekend Friday, Jan. 24, seven Badger legacies will be playing in the first-ever women's hockey 3-on-3 game between Team USA and Team Canada.

Former Badger goaltenders Alex Rigsby Cavallini (2010-14) and Ann-Renée Desbiens (2013-17) will represent the U.S. and Canada. American forwards Brianna Decker (2009-13), Hilary Knight (2007-12) and Annie Pankowski (2014-19) will play alongside past teammates and Canadian forwards Sarah Nurse (2013-17) and Blayre Turnbull (2011-15).

Cammi Granato, Team USA women's hockey legend, 1998 Olympic gold-medalist and sister of Wisconsin men's hockey head coach Tony Granato, will coach the American team.

Decker, Knight and Nurse are also among the eight players who could potentially represent the U.S. and Canada in the Shooting Stars competition during the NHL skills challenge.

Introducing the roster for the Elite Women's 3-on-3 presented by @adidas! American and Canadian All-Stars will face off during the #NHLAllStar Skills competition on Jan. 24.

🇺🇸: @NHLonNBCSports
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/Byo1rP06hY
— NHL (@NHL) January 16, 2020