Three Gophers will feel at home this weekend. Travis Boyd, Brady Skjei and Hudson Fasching will lead the Gophers into Ann Arbor, Mich., for their final regular-season series against Michigan.
The college town was home to the trio while playing for the U.S. National Team Developmental Program throughout their final two years of high school. The program's close proximity to Yost Arena left each of the Gophers' standouts with a familiarity of Michigan hockey.
"It's a nice place. Overall, a college town. I'm really looking forward to playing a game at Yost [Arena] where it's a college vs. a college," Boyd said. "I'm excited to get back out there and see my [host] family and see some people I haven't seen in a while. It should be a lot of fun going back."
Fun will come second. The Gophers must claim at least two points to win the Big Ten regular-season championship outright. A win would earn three points, a tie one point, and a shootout win is worth an extra point. The Gophers prefer to get the job done with a victory.
Michigan's postseason could be on the line this weekend. If the Wolverines lose two to the Gophers and struggle in the Big Ten hockey tournament, they could be left out of the NCAA Tournament.
Michigan missed the postseason last year for the first time in 22 seasons.
• Forward Sam Warning's status was still unclear on Wednesday. He missed last Saturday's game with an upper-body injury, but was skating well during Wednesday's practice.
Gophers coach Don Lucia said he would be assessed throughout the rest of the week before a decision was made.
