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Men's Hockey Clara Boudette

Quick Six: Badgers begin Big Ten play against Michigan

Big Ten title defense begins with trip to Ann Arbor

Men's Hockey Clara Boudette

Quick Six: Badgers begin Big Ten play against Michigan

Big Ten title defense begins with trip to Ann Arbor

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's hockey team opens up Big Ten conference play this week as they travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a two-game series against the No. 2 Wolverines Thursday and Friday, Oct. 28-29.

Here are six quick things to know before tuning in:

1 - SHORT-HANDED?: UW boasts more short-handed goals (2) than power-play goals (1) through six games. Senior alternate captain Dominick Mersch scored the first short-handed goal of his career last Saturday at St. Cloud State and currently leads the Badgers with two goals this season.



2 - THIRD PERIOD FORTUNE: The Badgers continued their strong play in third periods at St. Cloud State, scoring the game's lone goal on Friday, before playing to a 1-1 period on Saturday with a short-handed goal. SCSU's only third-period goal was an empty-netter. So far this season, the Badgers have out-scored their opponents 7-1 in the third period.

3 - FAMILY RIVALRY: Freshman forward Brayden Morrison (Calgary, Alberta) is the son of Brendan Morrison, Michigan's all-time leading scorer and the 1997 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner. Brendan, who played 14 seasons in the NHL with seven different teams, also scored the game-winning goal in the 1996 NCAA Championship Game.

4 - FACE-OFF FURY: The Badgers have been strong in the face-off circle through six games, going 208-151 (57.9 percent) on draws. That win percentage ranks No. 2 in the nation. All eight Badgers who have taken more than two face-offs are above .500 in the circle. Junior forward Ryder Donovan currently leads the pack with a 13-6 record for a .684 win percentage. 

5 - SCOUTING MICHIGAN: The Wolverines recorded their first loss last weekend, losing 5-2 at home to Western Michigan, before responding with a 3-2 overtime win at WMU for a 5-1-0 record on the season. 

Sophomore forward and Vegas Golden Knights first round draft pick Brendan Brisson leads Michigan with six goals and 10 points in six games. 

Michigan has 13 drafted players on their roster including seven first round picks. Owen Power (1st overall, Buffalo), Matty Beniers (2nd overall, Seattle), Luke Hughes (4th overall, New Jersey), and Kent Johnson (5th overall, Columbus) were all taken in the top five of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

6 - HOW TO WATCH: Thursday's game begins at 6 p.m. CT, while Friday is a 6:30 p.m. start. Saturday's game will air on Big Ten Network, with Friday streaming online on B1G+. Follow along live on Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey


 
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Players Mentioned

Ryder Donovan

#22 Ryder Donovan

F
6' 4"
Junior
R
Dominick Mersch

#25 Dominick Mersch

F
6' 0"
Senior
L
Brayden Morrison

#9 Brayden Morrison

F
6' 0"
Freshman
L

Players Mentioned

Ryder Donovan

#22 Ryder Donovan

6' 4"
Junior
R
F
Dominick Mersch

#25 Dominick Mersch

6' 0"
Senior
L
F
Brayden Morrison

#9 Brayden Morrison

6' 0"
Freshman
L
F