Five Things to Know: Border Battle

Wisconsin

1-1-0

Minnesota

3-1-0

Game One Coverage

Friday, Dec. 4 | 6:07 p.m. - Minneapolis

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Game Two Coverage

Saturday, Dec. 5 | 4:07 p.m. - Minneapolis

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MADISON, Wis.— No. 1 Wisconsin is slated to take on No. 3 Minnesota for the first Border Battle of the season this coming weekend. The team will be headed to Minneapolis to take on the Gophers at Ridder Arena on Dec. 4 and 5. Friday's game will start at 6 p.m. and Saturday's at 4 p.m. Both games will be available to watch on BTN+.

Here are five things to know before the puck drops.

1. LAST TIME OUT: The Badgers opened the season on Nov. 27 and 28 at No.4 Ohio State. They split the series 1-1 with the Buckeyes, finishing Friday's game with a 3-2 setback, then coming back to win Saturday with a 5-0 shutout. Six different Badgers scored during the split in Columbus, including Sophie Shirley, who posted a league-best two goals last weekend.

Saturday afternoon shutout for @BadgerWHockey. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yYaBobJtFw
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) November 28, 2020

2. ALL OF THE AWARDS: The WCHA announced weekly honors on Tuesday, naming Sophie Shirley Forward of the Week and Nicole Lamantia Defenseman of the Week. This comes after both had an outstanding weekend at Ohio State. Shirley recorded three points over the weekend, including two goals on Saturday which tied for most by a WCHA skater for the week. Lamantia had one assist on Friday, then three assists and a +4 plus/minus rating on Saturday to lead the WCHA.

3. MILESTONE MEMORIES: The weekend at Ohio State marked many milestones for the Badgers. Shirley recorded her 100th career point on Friday, becoming one of only 27 Badgers to ever do so. She also recorded her 50th career goal on Saturday and is one of 18 Badgers to hit this number in program history. Graduate transfer Kennedy Blair recorded her first shutout with the Badgers in Saturday's 5-0 win and freshman Maddi Wheeler recorded her first collegiate goal.

Another day, another milestone for #Badgers @sophieshirley9!

A day after earning her 100th career point, Sophie potted her 50th career goal today! #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/EfRtjL343u
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) November 29, 2020

4. TURNING THE TIDE: Recently Wisconsin has been having a good run against Minnesota. Overall, the Badgers trail the Golden Gophers 41-52-12 but have gone 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings and 12-5-3 in the last 20. The Badgers currently hold a two-game winning streak against Minnesota after earning a sweep of the Golden Gophers in Madison on Jan. 24-25.

5. MINNESOTA'S MAKEUP: The No. 3 ranked Gophers are currently 3-1 after splitting a series against Ohio State two weeks ago and sweeping Minnesota Duluth last weekend. Goaltender Lauren Bench earned WCHA's Goaltender of the Week award for the second week in a row after recording 57 saves on 60 shots in the sweep against UMD.

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