7 p.m. Fri., 5 p.m. Sat. at Wisconsin • FSN both nights, 1500-AM Fri., 107.1-FM Sat.
Preview: The No. 7 Gophers (13-5-2, 5-1 Big Ten) have won six games in a row, tying their longest winning streak in the Big Ten era. They are tied for the conference lead with Penn State, a team the Gophers play at home Feb. 3-4 after the North Star College Cup at Xcel Energy Center next weekend. Wisconsin (10-7-1, 3-1) is coming off two 5-1 home victories over Michigan State last weekend, the Badgers' first games since Dec. 10.
Players to watch: Senior F Vinni Lettieri had a hat trick for the Gophers in a 4-2 home victory over Michigan on Saturday. Captain Justin Kloos has three goals and eight assists during the Gophers' winning streak. … Badgers F Grant Besse, a senior from Benilde-St. Margaret's, has eight goals and a team-high 22 points. He has scored nine of his 38 career goals against Minnesota. Sophomore Luke Kunin, the Wild's first-round draft pick in 2016, leads Wisconsin in goals with 13, including seven in the past six games.
Numbers: The Gophers' penalty kill is 22-for-22 in the past six games, and the power play is 8-for-26 in the past five. … The Badgers average 35.9 shots per game, second in the country behind Penn State. And they are scoring 3.6 goals per game, which ranks sixth nationally.
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