Evening from an empty Mariucci Arena, where the Gophers host Wisconsin in Round 2 of the "Border Battle" tonight at 8 p.m.

The game is on the Big Ten Network and 1500-AM.

Minnesota will make a couple lineup changes tonight.

Freshmen Ryan Reilly and A.J. Michaelson are scratched.

Tom Serratore moves from fourth-line left wing to center, and he'll be in the middle of two defensemen -- Jake Parenteau, who didn't play last night, and Justin Holl.

In addition, sophomore Jared Larson will make his season home debut as third-line left wing. Larson, who is from Apple Valley, played both games in Anchorage last weekend.

Adam Wilcox (5-1-2, 1.61 goals against average and .923 save percentage) will start his eighth consecutive game.

No changes for the Badgers, although I am not sure who starting in goal yet. Landon Peterson was dynamite last night with 41 saves. Joel Rumpel is 1-3-1 with a 2.37 goals against average and .919 save percentage.

Gophers lineup

FORWARDS

Kyle Rau-Nick Bjugstad-Christian Isackson

Nate Condon-Erik Haula-Zach Budish

Jared Larson-Travis Boyd-Seth Ambroz

Jake Parenteau-Tom Serratore-Justin Holl

DEFENSEMEN

Seth Helgeson-Ben Marshall

Brady Skjei-Nate Schmidt

Mike Reilly-Mark Alt

GOALIES

Adam Wilcox

Ryan Coyne

Badgers lineup

FORWARDS

Joseph LaBate-Jefferson Dahl-Tyler Barnes

Morgan Zulinick-Derek Lee-Michael Mersch

Ryan Little-Brendan Woods-Keegan Meuer

Brad Navin-Matt Paape-Sean Little

DEFENSEMEN

Kevin Schulze-John Ramage

Chase Drake-Joe Faust

Jake McCabe-Frankie Simonelli

GOALIES

Joel Rumpel

Landon Peterson

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I just got to Mariucci from Xcel Energy Center, where I watched the Aeros practice and yucked it up with the Wild brass and coaching staff. I'll be doing a story for Monday's paper on the Aeros, most likely Charlie Coyle. If he keeps up his play, he's got a great chance to make the Wild's opening night roster ... if the lockout one day ends.

Fun to be back there actually watching hockey. Coach Mike Yeo has been running around town keeping busy. He met last week with the ridiculously good University of Minnesota women's team and is scheduled to return for a chalk talk.

He is just trying to stay busy, and all the coaches are excited to watch the Aeros on Sunday (5 p.m.) and praying they'll get back to work soon. Hopefully that will be coming down the pike.

The good news is that two-week moratorium reported across the league earlier this week has ended about 11 days early.

The NHL and NHLPA are set to get back to the bargaining table Monday. Keep your fingers crossed.