It's Friday, I'm in Love

I don't care if Mondays black
Tuesday, Wednesday - heart attack
Thursday, never looking back
It's Friday, I'm in love

Badger Men @ Denver, Friday 8:30 CT & Saturday 8:00 CT

Game Coverage
Friday's game will be televised on FSN. No TV on Saturday, but you can watch the video webcast on denverpioneers.com -- it's listed as a "premium event", so it looks like you need to sign up -- the cost is $8.95/month. And, of course, the Wisconsin radio broadcast is available on yahoosports for $4.95/month.

Also, keep an eye on the Men's Hockey Blog on uwbadgers.com -- I assume that Paul Capobianco will be live-blogging from the games. I'd also expect that Todd Milewski will have pre-game and post-game updates on The Icehouse blog as well.

Lines
Here are the Badgers' projected lines per Todd:

Geoffrion-Stepan-Davies
Murray-Street-P. Johnson
Mitchell-Dolan-Grotting
Bohmbach-Thurber-Turnbull

McDonagh-McBain
Smith-Goloubef
Gardiner-Springer

Connelly
Gudmandson

As you know, Bendickson is injured and did not make the trip. The other 2 skaters making the trip are forward Tom Gorowsky and defenseman Ryan Little. Todd indicates that neither are expected to play on Friday. (Does this mean the door is open for them to play on Saturday?)

I'm too lazy too look up projected Denver lines in the Denver media, but here's was what shared on the uscho fan forum by dggoddard:

Maiani - Bozak - Salazar
Rakhshani - Ruegsegger - Dewhurst
Colborne - Martin - Ostrow
Glasser - Gifford - Jackson

Testwuide - Lee
Wiercioch - Mullen
Ryder - Nutini

Cheverie

Series Previews
uwbadgers: Game Notes (pdf)
Milewski (Icehouse): Thursday Rink Report
Milewski (TCT): Preview: UW men's hockey vs. Denver
Milewski (TCT): Badgers, Pioneers resume eventful rivalry
Breiner (Daily Cardinal): Men's hockey heads to Denver
Mason (Badger Herald): Men's hockey kicks off WCHA schedule
Worgull (Badger Nation): No. 20 Wisconsin @ No. 4 Denver
Puck Swami: Know Your Foe
denverpioneers: WCHA actions starts this weekend against Wisconsin

A Look at Special Teams
Baggot (badger beat blog): A hands-off approach
Milewski (TCT): Last season's penalty killing woes prompt change

Coaching Staff / Player Features
Whiteley (FDL Reporter): Springs prepares Snider to be UW strength coach
Rooney (Rocky Mountain News): Wiercioch's choice of DU over Wisconsin ready to be justified

WCHA Notebooks/Previews
USCHO
INCH
Mason (Badger Herald): WCHA 2008-09 preview




Badger Women @ Bemidji, Friday 7PM CT & Saturday 6PM CT

The Saturday game will actually be played in Eveleth as the 1st-ever women's US Hockey HOF game. Cool.

Game Coverage
Radio webcast on listentothebeavers.com for $7 per game.

Series Previews
uwbadgers: Badgers play Bemidji State in first women's U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game
bemidjistate: Game Notes (pdf)
Storlie (Daily Cardinal): Ladies in red to face Bemidji
Mosgaller (Badger Herald): Badgers ready for Bemidji St. (Just substitute "Beavers" every time you see "Bison")
Mosgaller (Badger Herald): Women's hockey ignores rankings

FWIW, I recommend not underestimating Bemidji based on their performance last year (4-29-3) or their 1-1-2 record this year. They split with Wayne State, which is a usually a pretty good team, and the loss was by just 1 goal. And they officially tied Northeastern each night, winning the shootout in both games.

Having said that, I think the Badgers are smart enough not to underestimate the Beavers. And after facing 30 SOG and allowing 4 goals on Friday last weekend, Jessie Vetter indicated she improved her preparedness for Saturday last weekend (and earned another shutout!), so I'd expect that Vetter will continue to be well-prepared. Additionally, playing in the 1st-ever women's HOF game adds some prestige to the Saturday game. So all-in-all, I'd expect the Badgers to come out strong this weekend.