Five Things to Know: No. 1 Badgers head east to face No. 2 Buckeyes

UW and OSU meet in Columbus for top-two tussle

MADISON, Wis. – The top-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey team is continuing its road streak with the toughest challenge of the season yet, a showdown at OSU Ice Rink against the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. Puck drop on Friday is set for 5 p.m while Saturday’ series finale begins at 2 p.m. CT.

Fans can watch both games on Big Ten Plus or listen to them in the Madison area on 100.9 FM on Friday and 1070 AM on Saturday.

Britta Curl celebrates against St. Cloud State

1. Last Time Out

UW continued its perfect start to the 2023-24 season at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center as they dispatched St. Cloud State, 4-2, on Friday afternoon before completing the sweep with a 5-2 triumph on Saturday afternoon. In Friday’s tilt, Britta Curl tallied a goal for the 10th-straight game, breaking the previous school record of nine set by Meghan Duggan. On Saturday, the Badgers scored three times in the last four minutes of the game to defeat the Huskies after being tied 2-2 for most of the final frame. Goalies Jane Gervais and Ava McNaughton each earned a win in the series. Both Gervais and McNaughton are 6-0-0 to start the season.

2. HOCKEY SCHOOL

For the first time since the 2006-07 season, both the Wisconsin women’s and men’s hockey teams are ranked No. 1 in the nation. Wisconsin is the first school to have both No. 1 spots since Minnesota on Nov. 7, 2022. The Badger men have started off their season 9-1-0, earning them their first top ranking since the 2006-07 preseason poll.

3. RIVALRY SERIES REWIND

Last week, Team USA captured both of the November games of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series against Canada. Former Badgers Natalie Buchbinder, Hilary Knight and Abby Roque suited up alongside current Badgers Britta Curl, Lacey Eden and Laila Edwards to represent the United States, while Kristen Campbell, Emily Clark, Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull were among those on the roster for Canada. The United States triumphed Canada 3-1 on Wednesday night at Mullet Arena in Tempe, Arizona, before wrapping up the weekend with a 5-2 victory on Saturday afternoon at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Knight picked up a goal in the first game, while Captain Curl lit the lamp during Saturday’s game. Knight currently leads all skates in the Rivalry Series in points with four. Edwards made her U.S. Senior Women’s National Team debut on Saturday, becoming the first Black athlete to do so.

4. GONE STREAKING

The Badgers are currently on a 16-game winning streak, including four games from last season’s NCAA tournament run and the first 12 games of this season. Wisconsin’s 12-game winning streak to start the season is tied for the third-best start in program history. The Cardinal and White last opened their season 12-0-0 during the 2021-22 season

5. AGAINST OHIO STATE

Wisconsin leads the all-time series against Ohio State 77-21-10. The Badgers last faced the Buckeyes in the 2023 NCAA National Championship game on March 19. UW upset OSU, 1-0, to earn their record-breaking seventh national championship title. When playing at the OSU Ice Rink, the Badgers are 34-11-3.

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