Michigan hockey looking for conference points against Wisconsin

With the non-conference slate of the No. 5 Michigan hockey staff’s schedule concluded, the Wolverines can now give attention to the following stretch of Huge Ten play. Whereas they beforehand confronted the load of a single end result inflicting Pairwise comparisons to shake out in opposition to whole conferences, every particular person recreation is now simply that — one recreation. 

Sitting at sixth place within the Huge Ten — with two video games in hand — Michigan simply must win just a few convention video games. With six out of seven groups within the convention ranked, although, that’s simpler stated than achieved. 

However the one in-conference rival that isn’t ranked is Wisconsin, the Wolverines’ opponent this upcoming weekend. 

Up to now, the Badgers have nosedived to a 0-6 begin to convention play, getting swept by No. 6 Penn State, No. 13 Michigan State and No. 17 Ohio State. On paper, they’re the worst staff within the convention by a large margin, and it’s proven of their early failures. 

However in a loaded convention, even the worst staff nonetheless poses a formidable problem. Although it got here in opposition to lower-quality competitors relative to the Huge Ten, Wisconsin is using a four-game win streak, carrying momentum into this weekend’s conflict with Michigan. 

“There aren’t any straightforward video games within the Huge Ten,” Michigan assistant coach Rob Rassey stated Tuesday. “Each night time, you’re gonna face a high quality opponent with a very good coach and good gamers and often a very good setting. It’s positively difficult.”

The Badgers additionally boast the second-highest faceoff win proportion within the nation — an space that the Wolverines battle in, ranked simply forty fourth. If Wisconsin can management the faceoff circle as that disparity signifies it can, it might assist maintain offensive strain and forestall Michigan from spending an excessive amount of time on extended assaults.

However faceoffs are primarily the one measurable side of the sport by which the Badgers have outperformed the Wolverines so far. Michigan may battle within the faceoff circle, but when it performs to its id, it ought to be capable to overcome that.  

In the meantime, attributable to an illness-ravaged few weeks which pressured stars off the ice and backups onto it, the Wolverines haven’t but seen the ends in convention play they want. As they proceed to place that behind them, this weekend affords one other contemporary begin.