Saturday night lineups vs Minnesota State

One lineup change tonight for the Badgers as Eric Springer is inserted for freshman Joe Faust. In my opinion Faust has been playing much better than Springer but Baggot indicates that Faust may have injured his shoulder.

Minnesota State has changed up their forward lines in a few different places but the biggest item of note is Austin Lee playing tonight. Phil Cook got the start for the Mavericks last night (and played well). Lee started in Minnesota State's only victory over Wisconsin last season.

WISCONSIN

Jordy Murray-Craig Smith-Mark Zengerle
Michael Mersch-Podge Turnbull-Tyler Barnes
Patrick Johnson-Sean Dolan-Derek Lee
Ryan Little-Jefferson Dahl-Gavin Hartzog

Jake Gardiner-Justin Schultz
Craig Johnson-John Ramage
Eric Springer-Frankie Simonelli

Scott Gudmandson

MINNESOTA STATE

Michael Dorr-Joe Schiller-Eriah Hayes
Chase Grant-Andrew Sackrison-Mike Louwerse
Adam Mueller-Rylan Galiardi-Justin Jokinen
Evan Mosey-Zach Lehrke-John McInnis

Channing Boe-Kurt Davis
Tyler Elbrecht-Ben Youds
Cameron Cooper-Josh Nelson

Austin Lee

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Badgers extend home winning streak with 3-2 victory

The Wisconsin Badgers extened their home winning streak to eight games after a 3-2 victory Friday night over Minnesota State at the Kohl Center. Senior netminder Scott Gudmandson stopped 37 shots en route to the victory.

Wisconsin goals were scored by Podge Turnbull, Jake Gardiner, and Michael Mersch. The Badgers are now 9-0 when Turnbull scores a goal. Turnbull has now scored 7 goals in his past 9 games.

With the victory, Wisconsin moved up 1 spot in the Pairwise from #9 to #8.

WSJ (Baggot): Gardiner's recovery saves the day for Badgers
PucKato (Frederick): Wisconsin 3, Minnesota State 2
UWBadgers.com: Men's hockey deafeats Minnesota State 3-2
UWBadgers.com: Highlights
UWBadgers.com: Post Game Press Conference
UWBadgers.com: Post Game Quotes
UWBadgers.com: Final Statistics
MSUMavericks.com: Second period dooms Mavericks at Wisconsin Friday

Scores from around the league
St. Cloud 2, Bemidji State 1 OT
Denver 3, Alaska-Anchorage 2
Nebraska-Omaha 8, North Dakota 4
Minnesota-Duluth 5, Michigan Tech 0
Colorado College 7, Alabama Huntsville 0

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Projected Friday Lineups vs Minnesota State

Thanks to Andy Baggot we've learned that Frankie Simonelli is back with the team after spending a day back at home tending to a family matter. That's great news for the Badgers. It also looks like freshman Joe Faust will replace Eric Springer on the pairing with Simonelli tonight. Additionally, freshman forward Gavin Hartzog will be in the lineup tonight for only the eighth time this season on a wing with Ryan Little and Jefferson Dahl.

WISCONSIN

Jordy Murray-Craig Smith-Mark Zengerle
Michael Mersch-Podge Turnbull-Tyler Barnes
Patrick Johnson-Sean Dolan-Derek Lee
Ryan Little-Jefferson Dahl-Gavin Hartzog

Jake Gardiner-Justin Schultz
Craig Johnson-John Ramage
Frankie Simonelli-Joe Faust

Scott Gudmandson

MINNESOTA STATE

Michael Dorr-Andrew Sackrison-Eriah Hayes
Chase Grant-Rylan Galiardi-Zach Lerke
Adam Mueller-Joe Schiller-Mike Louwerse
J.P. Burkemper-Eli Zuck-Justin Jokinen

Channing Boe-Kurt Davis
Tyler Elbrecht-Ben Youds
Cameron Cooper-Josh Nelson

Phil Cook

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Minnesota State Mankato Week

Another week, another WCHA series. This week brings the 10-9-5 Minnesota State (or whatever they are being called now) Mavericks into Madison to take on the 15-8-3 Wisconsin Badgers.

Last weekend saw the Badgers with their backs up against the wall battling the flu bug and a 2-0 loss on Friday night but they were able to battle back and win a crucial Saturday night game against #5 Minnesota-Duluth in their new barn.

Sophomore Justin Schultz despite battling the flu this weekend was up to his old tricks getting the Badgers an early lead on Saturday night. As Andy Baggot points out this week, Schultz has a great chance to make Wisconsin history this season. His 14 goals are tied for first on the team, and no UW defenseman has ever led the club in goals. Additionally the UW record for goals in a season by a defenseman was set at 19 by former Badger Sean Hill. Schultz will have no less than 14 games to accomplish that feat.

Senior center Podge Turnbull who has been very effective since being inserted on a line with freshmen wingers Michael Mersch and Tyler Barnes found the net once again for his 9th goal this season. Turnbull has now scored 6 goals in his last 8 games and the Badgers are a ridiculous 8-0 in games where Podge finds the twine.

Wisconsin leading scorer and Sophomore alternate captain Craig Smith wasn't held quiet last weekend either. His second period power play goal on Saturday night turned out to be the eventual game winner for the Badgers. Smith's 33 points this season put him in a three way tie for third in the country in scoring behind the Miami duo of Carter Camper and Andy Miele.

Junior defenseman Jake Gardiner who has seemingly flew under the radar this season with the huge season of teammate and defensive partner Justin Schultz added a couple of helpers in the win on Saturday as well. Gardiners 26 points are third in the country amongst all defensemen behind only Schultz and Robert Morris defenseman Denny Urban.

Wisconsin's #1 net minder Scott Gudmandson once again found himself between the pipes on both nights for the cardinal and white. Scotty played solid both nights, something that the fans and the team have come to expect out of the gritty senior. Gudmandson is now second in the country in GAA and fourth in the country in Save Percentage.

Minnesota State comes into the Kohl Center after playing excellent hockey last weekend in Denver. The Mavericks played forced overtime on the Pioneers on back to back nights but only managed to escape with 1 point. A late goal with an extra attacker on Friday night by Denver's Kyle Ostrow forced OT and there would be no scoring in the extra session. Saturday night Minnesota State would come out firing with 3 goals to open the game but Denver would respond with 4 unanswered, including one in OT to grab the 3 point weekend.

Despite only being 4-9-3 in WCHA action, the Maverick have been playing much better hockey since the break. Besides the already mentioned weekend at Denver, Minnesota State swept American International and won the Shillelagh Tournament at Note Dame beating the Irish and Brown on back to back nights.

The Mavericks feature a pair of defenseman that would be solid for any team in the WCHA with Kurt Davis and Ben Youds. Both are playing at an all-conference level. Davis, a senior from Plymouth, Minnesota leads the Mav's in scoring with 19 points. Youds, a former Shattuck St. Mary's teammate of Badger Jordy Murray has chipped in 15 points of his own.

Offensively the Mavericks are led by former Minnesota Gopher Michael change of heart Dorr. The junior forward from Roseville, Mn originally committed to Minnesota-Duluth but reneged on that verbal when he got a better offer from the Gophers. After not seeing the playing time he thought he deserved with the maroon and gold, Dorr fled to Mankato.

In goal expect to see Sophomore Phil Cook this weekend. The Wheaton, Illinois native has played the majority of the minutes for Minnesota State this season and has put up average numbers so far. Cook brings in a 8-8-3 record with a .908 save percentage and a 3.01 GAA.

As always special teams will be big for who comes out with points this weekend. The Badgers are ranked #3 in the country in PP conversions and the Mavericks aren't ranked in the top 40. The Badgers must take advantage of this if they want to have success. Phil Cook doesn't have the greatest numbers in the league but I saw him absolutely stand on his head in a weekend sweep over Minnesota this fall. Cook has the ability to win games for his club.

COVERAGE

UWBadgers.com is listing the game on the Wisconsin Channel live on Friday night and WISC-TV on Saturday night with both games being tape delayed later that night.

POLLS

The Badgers stayed at #9 in the USCHO.com poll and moved up to #9 from #11 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll. Minnesota State was also receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll.

INJURIES

As we found out last week, Sean Little and Tyler Barnes were banged up although Barnes played in both games and Little played on Saturday night. Jefferson Dahl who had missed some time played in both games as well. Yesterday we found out from Andy Baggot that Michael Mersch took a puck off the foot and was in a walking boot coming out of the rink and that Sean Dolan re-aggravated an ankle injury. Both of their statuses for the weekend are unknown at this point.

Update: Andy Baggot just tweeted the Mersch and Dolan were both at practice today and looked good so thats a positive sign.

Update 2: It looks like Frankie Simonelli might not be available this weekend as he's home in Illinois tending to some family issues according to Baggot.

PREDICTIONS

Minnesota State is a solid hockey club and I love their top defenseman and goalie Phil Cook. Unfortunately I see them coming in and sneaking out a victory from us on Friday night. We've got a lot of guys nursing different injuries and I'm afraid we're going to fall asleep one of the nights this weekend.

Friday: Wisconsin 2, Minnesota State 3
Saturday: Wisconsin 5, Minnesota Sate 2

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WCHA Season Preview: Mankato

School: Mankato
Mascot: Purple Cows
Head Coach: Troy Jutting, 9th year, 127-145-38

Last Season: 12-12-4, 4th place WCHA; 19-16-4 Overall

Predicted 08/09 WCHA Finish: 7th

Key Departures:
F Joel Hanson, 9-14-23*
F Jon Kalinski, 8-10-18
F RJ Linder, 1-7-8
*All stats listed from 07/08

Key Returnees:
F Trevor Bruess (Jr), 9-21-30
F Mick Berge (Sr), 20-6-26
F Kael Mouillievate (Jr), 11-11-22
F Geoff Irwin (Jr), 9-12-21
F Andrew Sackrison (So), 6-14-20

Top Sieve: Mike Zacharias (Sr), 18-13-4, 2.08 GAA

Key Additions:Their website doesn’t give much information on their freshman beyond height, weight, hometown; so I’m not going to bother to do the research for them. Justin Jokinen was a finalist for Mr. Hockey in Minnesota.

When Wisconsin Beats MSU: @ MSU 2/27 & 2/28

07/08 Recap: Mankato was the real surprise of the WCHA last season. After being a perennial bottom feeder, they had a great second half and landed home ice for the WCHA playoffs. They didn’t have a lot of big names on their team like Wisconsin or Denver or North Dakota, but they have a lot of solid D-I players. In the WCHA playoffs, they played one hell of a series w/ minnesota, but came out on the short end of things in Game 3. Despite their great season, they were the odd team out of the NCAA tourney, which led to much complaining after Wisconsin made it w/ a losing record. Most who are well versed in the pairwise rankings pointed to their cupcake non-conference schedule. Mike Zacharias was a real bright point in net.

08/09 Thoughts: I have Mankato pretty low in my rankings, but I think the WCHA is going to be pretty tight between 3rd and 7th (just like last year), so they could easily finish higher, and the next teams I preview could finish behind them. Since last year was their first breakout year, I’m not going to throw them back in the top half of the WCHA. They do have a lot going for them, w/ a lot of returning scoring and upperclassmen, but I’m not convinced they can pull it all together again, though Zacharias should be solid in net. Don’t know much about their freshman class, but it appears they have some decent talent coming in, not on par w/ the top teams, but who really wants to be a purple cow? Another cupcake non-conference schedule on tap as well.