Second-ranked Wisconsin women's hockey, No. 5 Minnesota streak into late-season showdown
MADISON – First-place in the WCHA is all but decided with top-ranked Ohio State needing only a five-point series against last-place St. Thomas to grab its second straight title.
The pecking order of the conference’s next-best women’s hockey teams is to be determined.
Just four points separate No. 2 Wisconsin (26-4, 20-4, 60 points) from fifth-ranked Minnesota (24-5-1, 18-5-1, 56) in the standings with a series on tap between the two Friday and Saturday at La Bahn Arena. The teams also appear in good position to serve as top seeds/hosts for the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament based on their PairWise ranking of third and fourth, respectively.
The situation, however, could change in the coming weeks.
For Wisconsin, the series marks the start of an end-of-year run that incudes Ohio State next week and then possible rematches with the Buckeyes and Golden Gophers in the WCHA playoffs.
“The players are locked in. I’m sure Minnesota is going to locked in, so when they drop the puck Friday night at 7 it will be fun,” Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said. “This is why they spend the summer working out. This is why we practice, to have these types of weekends, especially late in the season.”’
The women’s hockey version of the Border Battle has lived up to the hype. The teams have met 21 times during the past four-plus seasons. Eight of those games went to overtime. Three others were decided by one goal.
The team’s overtime national semifinal last season, a 3-2 overtime win by Wisconsin, fit into both categories.
Expect plenty of fireworks this time.
Wisconsin ranks first in the nation with 5.4 goals per game. Minnesota junior Abbey Murphy leads the nation with 29 goals and the Golden Gophers lead the nation with a power play percentage of 38.8%.
Both teams have scored five goals on the other this season. The Gophers, who have won eight straight, did it in a 5-3 win on Dec. 9 and Wisconsin did it in a 5-1 victory Dec. 10.
The five goals are the most Wisconsin has allowed in a game this season. Minnesota gave up six to Ohio State on Oct. 28.
The Gophers also had the pleasure of handing Wisconsin its last loss.
“Teams are playing at a different level right now,” Johnson said. “We played right before semester break. It seems like about 20 years ago. So much has happened between now and then.”
Wisconsin will take the ice with a 13-game winning streak that is its longest of the season. Last week the Badgers swept Bemidji State as 10 Badgers scored at least one goal. Fifteen skaters posted at least one point.
That kind of balance will likely yield positive results for the Badgers again.
“I think we’re trying not to get too caught up in all the details with the standings and the PairWise,” senior Casey O’Brien said. “We’re just trying to focus on playing our game. We’re not too concerned with what kind of stretch they’re on. We’re just focused on ourselves and as long as we play our game and stick to our identity we’ll be just fine.”
More: Wisconsin women's hockey primed for top-five showdown with Minnesota after sweep of Bemidji State
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin women's hockey, Minnesota streak into late-season showdown
