Series preview: Gophers hockey vs.Wisconsin

TV/radio: FSN Plus Friday, BTN Saturday; 1500-AM.

Records: Wisconsin 1-4-1, 1-2-1; No. 3 Gophers 6-2-1, 3-2-1.

Gophers at a glance: Coming off three points at Alaska Anchorage, the Gophers play the first two of four games against the Badgers. Five of six goals from the Gophers last weekend came on the power play. They have a conference-best .286 power-play percentage but rank 10th in 5-on-5 goals. They lead the conference with 15 first-period goals. G Adam Wilcox (5-1-1, WCHA-best 1.58 GAA) is expected to start both games with G Mike Shibrowski hurt. LW Sam Warning (undisclosed) will miss his sixth and seventh games. Speedy Wisconsin native Nate Condon has taken Warning's second-line spot and has six points in six games.

Badgers at a glance: The defensive-minded Badgers, who play a 1-1-3, have scored first in four of six games. F Michael Mersch leads with four goals. G Joel Rumpel has allowed more than three goals in a game once in the past 10 games. Mark Zengerle, who leads with six points and is eight points shy of 100 for his career, is hurt, and F Nic Kerdiles is suspended by the NCAA. The Badgers have six Minnesota natives: Tyler Barnes, Spencer Bell, Joe Faust, Joseph LaBate, Kevin Schultze and Eddie Wittchow.